HISTORY 


OF   THE 


SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT 

NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS; 

WHAT  IT  ENDURED  AND  ACCOMPLISHED ; 


CONTAINING   DESCRIPTIONS    OF    ITS    TWENTY-FIVE    BATTLES ;    ITS   MARCHES  ; 

ITS  CAMP  AND  BIVOUAC  SCENES  ;  WITH  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 

OF  FIFTY-THREE  OFFICERS,  AND  A  COMPLETE  RECORD 

OF  THE  ENLISTED  MEN. 


BY 

^L.  F.  SMITH, 

LATE  FIRST  LIEUTENANT  AND   Q.    M.,    SEVENTY-SIXTH  N.    Y.    VOLS. 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  FORTY-NINE  ENGRAVINGS  ON  WOOD, 

BY  J.    P.    DAVIS  &   SPEER,   OF  NEW  YORK; 
AND  A  LITHOGRAPH,  BY  L.  N.  ROSENTHAL,  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CORTLAND,  N.  Y. 

PRINTED   FOR   THE   PUBLISHER. 

1867. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1806, 
BY  A.  P.  SMITH, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  Northern 
District  of  New  York. 


TKTTAIB,  SMITH  &  MILES,  P&JvTSBe^     »  .  *  •       •    »\   '  JACOB     MILLER,  BINDER, 

JOUBNAL  OFFICE,  SYRAWSB.'Nr  V*    •*.-.*        «•«•?•*•%•  SYBACVSK,   N.  Y. 


TO 
THE  MEMORY  OF  THOSE  HEROES  OF  THE 

SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS, 

WHO,    ON  THE  MARCH,    IN  THE  CAMP,  AND  ON  THE  STORMY  BATTLE-FIELD, 
GAVE  UP  THEIR  UNSULLIED  LIVES  THAT  THEIR  COUNTRY  MIGHT  LIVE, 

THIS  VOLUME  IS  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED, 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


M.15714S 


6  PREFACE. 

to  Major-General  Abner  Doubleday  for  diagrams  and  descriptions  of  the  early 
battles  in  which  the  Regiment  was  engaged,  and  the  free  use  of  his  Order  and 
Scrap  Books  so  kindly  tendered.  Also,  to  Colonel  William  P.  Wainwright,  who 
has  added  to  his  kindly  interest  in  the  work,  over  fifty  pages  of  personal  reminis 
cences  ;  and  to  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  L.  Swan,  Major  John  W.  Young, 
Adjutant  II.  F.  Robinson,  Captains  Fox,  Byram,  Sager,  Pierce,  Potter  and  Jarvis, 
and  Lieutenants  Myers,  Edgcomb  and  Stebbins,  who  so  kindly  furnished  inci 
dents  ;  Private  William  J.  Mantanye,  of  Company  D,  who  furnished  personal 
incidents,  and  numerous  official  reports  from  Brigade  Headquarters ;  and  H.  Perry 
Smith,  Esq.,  of  Syracuse,  who  translated  the  diary  of  Adjutant  Carpenter,  kept 
for  the  first  year  and  a  half,  in  Phonography.  The  men  who  furnished  facts  and 
diaries  so  liberally,  will  each  accept  the  profound  gratitude  of  the  writer.  With 
out  their  co-operation,  these  facts  could  not  have  been  collated. 

It  is  with  regret  that  the  valuable  article  on  "  Prison  Life,"  furnished  by  Cap 
tain  B.  B.  Porter,  of  the  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry,  has  been  compressed  into  the 
biography  of  Lieutenant  Myers.  The  press  of  matter  connected  with  the  Regi 
ment  alone  prevented  its  insertion  entire. 

This  work  is  now  given  to  the  public,  asking  that  the  criticisms  may  be  tem 
pered  by  a  recollection  of  the  difficulties  under  which  such  a  work  is  compiled. 
If  it  shall  prove  instrumental  in  bringing  to  light  the  heroism  of  one  deserving 
patriot,  and  giving  to  a  meritorious  Regiment  even  an  humble  niche  in  the  tem 
ple  of  fame,  it  will  amply  repay  the  effort. 

CORTLAND,  N.  Y.,  January  1, 1867.  A.  P.  S. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


A.  P.  SMITH, Frontispiece. 

Camp  Doubleday,  D.  C.,  (Fort  Massachusetts),  ....  Facing  page  48 

Colonel  N.  W.  GREEN, Page  345 

Colonel  W.  P.  WAINWRIGHT, "349 

Lieutenant-Colonel  JOHN  D.  SHATJL,  .......  "350 

Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  J.  GEOVER, "352 

Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  A.  WATKINS,  .......  "855 

Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  L.  SWAN,  ......."     357 

Major  JOHN  W.  YOTJNG,  .........  "358 

Surgeon  J.  C.  NELSON, "360 

Chaplain  H.  S.  BICHARDSON,       .........  "363 

Adjutant  II.  F.  KOBINSON,  "364 

Adjutant  H.  CARPENTER,  .........  "365 

Quartermaster  U.  A.  BURNHAM,      .....'...."     367 

Sergeant-Major  THOMAS  MARTIN,        ........  "368 

Captain  H.  W.  PIERCE "369 

Lieutenant  W.  H.  EIPLET, "370 

Captain  O.  C.  Fox, "370 

Captain  ROBERT  STORY,  .........  "372 

Lieutenant  C.  D.  CRANDALL,  ........."     373 

Lieutenant  W.  S.  WALCOTT,        .........  "374 

Lieutenant  WILLIAM  CAHILL, "375 

Lieutenant  A.  L.  CARTER,  .........  "377 

Lieutenant  M.  P.  MARSH, "377 

Lieutenant  M.  M.  WHITNEY, "378 

Lieutenant  CARLOS  BALDWIN,        .........         M     879 

Lieutenant  T.  F.  WELDON, "380 

Captain  S.  M.  BYRAM,  .  "382 

Captain  J.  M.  WATERMAN, "383 

Lieutenant  E.  D.  VAN  SLYCK ..."     384 

Lieutenant  W.  H.  TARBELL, "385 

Lieutenant  L.  DAVIS, "385 

Lieutenant  B.  PHENIS,       ..........  "386 

Lieutenant  WM.  STRINGHAM,  ........."     387 

Lieutenant  T.  C.  GUERNSEY "388 

Captain  N.  G.  BARTHOLOMEW,        ........."     389 

Captain  IRA  C.  POTTER,  .........  "390 


BATTLES. 

Lieutenant  JOHN  II.  BALLAKD .  Page  392 

Captain  JOHN  H.  BARNARD,        .........  "393 

Captain  J.  L.  GODDAED,         .........."     394 

Lieutenant  W.  W.  GREEN, "395 

Lieutenant  "W.  H.  MYEKS, "396 

Lieutenant  H.  CLIFF, "400 

Captain  A.  SAGEK, "401 

Captain  J.  C.  HATCH, "403 

Lieutenant  JOHN  FISHER "404 

Lieutenant  W.  E.  EVANS, "405 

Lieutenant  R.  W.  CARRIER,  ........."     406 

Lieutenant  M.  EDGCOMB, "407 

Captain  E.  J.  SWAN, "408 


BATTLES 

PARTICIPATED  IN  BY  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

Rappahannock  Station,  Va.,     ......  August  21st,  1862. 

Warrenton  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.,  .          .          .          .          .  August  26th,  " 

Gainesville,  Va., August  28th,  " 

Second  Bull  Eun,  Va.,          . August  29th  &  30th, 

South  Mountain  Mel September  14th,  " 

Antietam  Md., September  17th,  " 

Snicker's  Gap,  Va.,          .......  November  1st  to  3d,  " 

Frcdericksburg,  Va., December  12th  &  13th,    " 

Chancellorsville,  Va May  1st  to  5th,  1863. 

Gettysburg,  Penn July  1st  to  4th,  " 

Mine  Run,  Va.,       ........  November  27th,  " 

Wilderness,  Va., .          .  May  5th  &  6th,  1864. 

Laurel  Hill,  Va., May  8th, 

Spottsylvania,  Va., May  12th,  " 

North  Anna,  (Jericho  Ford),  Va.,     .....  May  24th, 

Tolopotomoy  Creek,  Va.,     .......  June  1st,  " 

Coal  Harbor,  (Bethesda  Church),  Va.,        ....  June  3d  to  5th,  " 

Petersburg,  Va.,          ........  June  18th,  " 

Weldon  Railroad,  Va August  18th  to  21st,  " 

Poplar  Grove  Church,  Va.,  ......  September  30th,  " 

First  Hatcher's  Run,  Va.,          ......  October  28th,  " 

Hicksford  Raid,  Va., December  6th  to  12th  " 

Second  Hatcher's  Run,  Va., February  6th,  1865. 

Five  Forks  Va., April  1st,  " 

Lee's  Surrender  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Va.,       .          .  April  9th,  " 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Bull  Run  Disaster— North  Unprepared— The  People  Aroused— Organization 
of  the  Seventy-sixth  in  Cortland  County— First  "Hair-breadth  'Scape"— 
McNett  and  his  Allegany  Company— Colonel  Green  Shoots  Captain  McNetfc— 
General  James  Wood — Orders  to  March  to  Albany — Arrival  at  Albany — Indict 
ment  and  trial  of  Colonel  Green.  .  .  17 


CHAPTER  II. 

Arrival  at  Albany — Court  of  Inquiry — Colonel  Green  Restored  to  Command — New 
Year's  Parade — Recruiting  the  Otsego  Regiment — Ordered  to  Albany — Consoli 
dation  of  the  Two  Regiments — Flag  Presentation — Speeches — Orders  to  March 
— Riker's  Island — Introduction  to  the  Paymaster — Orders  to  March  to  Wash- 
ignton.  ..........  27 

CHAPTER  III. 

Orders  to  March — Sail  Down  the  Bay — Reception  at  Philadelphia — Influence  of 
Woman— The  "March  through  Old  Baltimore  "—Change  of  Sentiment  in  Bal 
timore — Washington — First  Camp  on  Meridian  Hill — Camp  Trials — First  Death 
in  the  Seventy-sixth — McClellan  Moves — Difficulty  in  the  Regiment — Occupy 
the  Forts— First  Battle  of  the  Seventy-sixth 39 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Camp  Life  around  Washington— Discipline— Cal.  Totman— Standing  on  a  Barrel 
—Pat.  McKone— Fire  in  a  Powder  House— Marching— Fight  on  Pennsylvania 


10  CONTENTS. 

Avenue — Slave  Catchers  Foiled — Sailing  Down  the  Potomac — Aquia  Creek — 
Tracks  of  the  Rebellion 51 

CHAPTER  V. 

March  to  Fredericksburg — Virginia  Shower — Fording — Arrival  at  Fredericksburg 
Movement  on  Foot — Rumors — General  McDowell — The  Lacy  House — Abraham 
Lincoln,  Secretary  Stanton,  and  the  Generals  in  Council — The  Seventy-sixth  to 
Remain  at  Fredericksburg.  .  .  63 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Fredericksburg— Changing  Camps— A  Reconnoisance  in  Force— Diabolism  of  the 
Rebels— Explosion  of  a  Magazine  in  Fredericksburg  by  a  Rebel  Torpedo— Rebel 
Sentiments — Lawyer  Wallace — The  Women  of  Fredericksburg — Shunning  the 
Flag — "Stonewall"  Jackson  Expected — Preparations  for  His  Reception — Major 
Livingston  as  Governor — Capture  of  Major  Lacy,  of  the  Lacy  House — Smug 
gling — Remarkable  Cures  of  Dropsy.  .....  CD 

CHAPTER  VII. 

General  McCall  Leaves  Fredericksburg — General  Pope  Takes  Command  of  the 
Army  of  Virginia — Number  of  Troops  in  that  Army — Movements  of  the  Troops 
— Doubleday's  Brigade  Assigned  to  King's  Division — Another  Wallace — "  Joe," 
the  Contraband— Foraging  on  the  Enemy— "  Slow  Note."  81 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Colonel  Wainwright  assumes  command  of  the  Seventy-sixth — Drill — Sunday  Ser 
vices—Celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July  in  Virginia— Truth  Spoken  in  a  New 
Locality— Battle  Impending— Organization  and  Movements  of  the  Army— March 
from  Fredericksburg  to  Culpepper— Eagerness  of  the  men— Death  from  Ex 
haustion—In  Search  of  the  Enemy— Fording  the  Rapidan— A  Night  March— 
The  Army  of  Virginia  Concentrated  at  Culpepper.  .  .  87 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A  Fight  Imminent— Cartridges  Distributed— No  Enemy  Appears— Foraging— 
Battle-Field  of  Cedar  Mountain— " Fall  In"— Retreat  of  General  Pope  Com 
menced—The  Seventy-sixth  under  Fire  for  the  First  Time— Battle  of  Rappahan- 


CONTENTS.  11 

nock  Station— Improper  Liberties  with  a  Rail  Pillow— Arrival  at  Warrenton— 
Bold  Instance  of  Foraging.    .......  99 

CHAPTER  X. 

Battle  of  Warrenton  Springs— The  Lady  and  False  Flag  of  Truce— Retreating  at 
Double-Quick — Reinforcements  Promised,  but  Not  Received — Battle  Imminent 
— Fire  upon  the  Ambulances — Dr.  Metcalfc  Induces  Bravery  in  a  Teamster — Bat 
tle  of  Gainesville — Terrible  Slaughter — Instances  of  Bravery — Retreat  of  Our 
Army — Suiferings  of  Our  Wounded  Prisoners — Feasting  and  Resting  are  Sud 
denly  Terminated  in  the  Army.  ......  113 

CHAPTER  XL 

Fighting  Renewed— Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run— "  Following  a  Retreating  Foe," 
and  What  Came  of  It—"  Don't  Fire  on  Your  Friends  "—Major  Livingston  Ral 
lies  the  Second  Mississippi— The  Colors  of  the  Seventy-sixth— "  Confusion 
Worse  Confounded" — Death  of  Lieutenant  Williams — Between  Two  Fires — 
"Be  Quiet,  Men!  God  will  do  with  Us  as  He  Will !"— Wading  through  the 
Mud— Terrible  Night  Duty— The  Regiment  Reaches  Upton  Hill— Forgiving 
Spirit  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  .** 129 

CHAPTER  XII. 

A  Short  Rest— March  through  Washington— Seventh  Street— Fort  Massachusetts 
— March  through  "My  Maryland" — Frederick  City — Cordial  Welcome  by  the 
People — Battle  of  South  Mountain — Death  of  Charles  E.  Stamp — Colonel  Wain- 
wright  Wounded— Rebel  Ruse— They  are  Severely  Punished— Union  Victory.  145 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

After  the  Battle  of  South  Mountain — Decided  Union  Victory — Appearance  of  the 
Battle-Field — Pursuing  the  Rebels — Ben  Van  Valkenburg  Captures  Nine  Pris 
oners—Battle  of  Antictam— Terrible  Slaughter— Another  Victory— Description 
of  the  Field  after  the  Battle— Failure  to  Reap  the  Golden  Harvest.  .  159 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

On  the  March— John  Brown— Jeff.  Davis— Rainy  Experiences— Return  of  Cloth 
ing  Left  at  Alexandria — Confiscation  in  the  Army — Capture  of  the  Blue  Ridge 


12  CONTENTS. 

Passes — Fight  at  Ashby's  Gap — Guarding  Rebel  Property — Foraging — Honey — 
Chickens— Marching  Orders.  ......  171 

CHAPTER  XV. 

March  to  Warrenton— " What  Guns  do  You  Carry?"— Snow  Storm— General 
McClellan  Leaves  the  Army — Colonel  Wainwright  Returns  to  the  Regiment — 
Warrenton  to  Falmouth — Continually  Changing — Arrive  at  Fredericksburg — 
Another  Battle  Imminent.  .......  183 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Crossing  the  Rappahannock — Battle  of  Fredericksburg — Heroic  Charge  of  Double- 
day's  Division— Lieutenant  Crandall  Killed— The  Rebels  Driven  from  a  Strong 
Position — Seventy-sixth  Guards  the  Battery — Night  Fight — Incidents  and  In 
stances  of  Bravery — Skillful  Retreat  of  General  Burnside — Tom  sees  "De  Ole 
House  Agin" — Getting  into  Camp — Winter  Quarters — General  Doubleday 
Transferred  to  Another  Command — His  Farewell  Address — Corduroying.  187 


CIIAPTEBsXVII. 

A  Forward  Movement — The  "Mud  March"  of  Burnside — Incidents  and  Descrip 
tions — Discipline — Furloughs — The  Sick  Sergeant — General  Burnside  Relieved 
by  General  Hooker — Review  of  the  Army  by  President  Lincoln.  .  199 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Battle  of  Chancellorsville— General  Wadsworth  Crosses  the  River  in  a  Boat  in  the 
Face  of  the  Enemy— A  Dead  Rebel— Building  Breastworks— Between  Two  Fires 
—Sergeant  Baker,  of  Company  H— Perilous  Condition  of  the  Seventy-sixth— 
A  March  of  Twenty  Miles — Entering  the  Battle — Shameful  Conduct  of  the 
Eleventh  Corps — John  Smith  Arrests  the  Dutchman — Inefficiency  of  Undrilled 
Nine  Months  Men— A  Third  Retreat.  207 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Seventy-sixth  Recruiting— Ann  Redmond— Trading  Between  the  Pickets- 
March  of  Thirty-five  Miles  in  One  Day— Colonel  Wainwright  Takes  His  Leave 
of  the  Seventy-sixth — Heat,  Dust,  and  Sun-stroke — Again  in  Maryland — Camp 
ing  in  the  Mud— March  Past  South  Mountain— Reception  at  Frederick  City— 


CONTENTS.  13 

Change  of  Commanders— Acts  of  Generosity  by  the  People— Amusing  Incident 
—Muster  for  Pay— The  Rolls  Never  Signed.  .  223 


CHAPTER  XX. 

March  to  Gettysburg— The  Seventy-sixth  Given  the  Post  of  Honor— Major  Gro- 
ver's  Order — Battle  of  Gettysburg — Details  and  Incidents — Half  the  Seventy- 
sixth  Killed  and  Wounded  in  Half  an  Hour— Instances  of  Heroism— Recruiting 
from  the  "  Wounded  "  on  the  Field — The  "  Nameless  Heroine  "  of  Gettysburg 
—The  Aged  Volunteer  of  Gettysburg— Sergeant  Cliff,  of  Company  F— Union 
Victory — Old  Archie — Ann  Redmond.  .....  235 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Victory  at  Gettysburg  answered  by  Victory  at  Vicksburg — An  Advance  Ordered 
— Crossing  South  Mountain — Watching  the  Enemy  to  See  Him  Safely  Across 
the  Potomac — Following  the  Rebel  Army — Guarding  Rebel  Property — General 
Wads  worth  Takes  a  Temporary  Leave — Reminiscences — Picket  Duty  on  the 
Rappahannock — Night  Experience  in  Camp — March  to  Culpepper — The  Pay 
master  Comes — Flag  Presentation  in  the  Second  Corps — Drunken  Scene — Large 
Profit  on  Whisky — Execution  of  Winslow  N.  Allen,  of  Company  H,  for  De 
sertion.  .........  251 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Seventy-sixth  Recruited  to  One  Thousand  Men— Building  Winter  Quarters- 
March  and  Leave  Them— Night  March— On  the  Retreats-Marching  Thirty 
Miles  in  Eighteen  Hours— Visit  to  the  Battle-Fields  of  Gainesville  and  Bull 
Run—Sickening  Sights— Retreating  and  Advancing— Wading  Broad  Run— An 
Important  Capture— John  Minor  Botts,  the  Loyalist— Dark  and  Dangerous 
Night  March— Battle  of  Mine  Run— Building  Winter  Quarters  Again— Another 
March— Winter  Quarters  in  Earnest.  .....  263 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Winter  Quarters— Re-enlisting— Furloughs— Theater  Established— Presentation 
of  a  New  Stand  of  Colors  by  the  Ladies  of  Cherry  Valley— Parting  with  "The 
Old  Flag"— A  March— Engagement  at  Raccoon  Ford— Return  to  Winter  Quar 
ters—General  Grant  Assumes  Command— General  Wadsworth  Returns— Re-Or 
ganization  of  the  Army — Preparations  for  a  Grand'Advance.  .  .  275 


14:  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

On  the  March — Battle  of  the  Wilderness — Three  Companies  of  the  Seventy-sixth 
as  Skirmishers — Interminable  Forests — A  Clearing  in  the  Wilderness — Falling 
into  an  Ambush — The  Three  Companies  Captured  by  the  Kebels — Confusion  in 
the  Rebel  Ranks — Brigade  Commander's  Opinion  of  the  Seventy-sixth — Severe 
Fighting — Death  of  General  Wadsworth — Death  of  Adjutant  Carpenter  and 
Captain  Bartholomew— Off  for  Spottsylvania 283 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Battle  of  Spottsylvania— General  Rice  Killed— "Turn  Me  with  My  Face  to  the 
Enemy"— "This  is  an  Unhealthy  Country,  Captain"— Continuous  Night  Firing 
— Terrible  Slaughter — Appearance  of  the  Ground  the  Next  Morning — A  Camp 
of  Dead  Heroes — Battle  of  the  North  Anna — On  the  Plantation  of  Patrick  Hen 
ry — Battle  near  Bethesda  Church — Captain  Goddard  and  Lieutenant  Baldwin 
Wounded— Losses  in  the  Seventy-sixth— March  to  the  Chickahominy— Deserted 
Villages 295 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Crossing  the  James  River — Fighting  South  of  the  James — Captain  Byram  Wound 
ed — Battle  at  the  Weldon  Railroad — Lieutenants  Phenis  and  Weldon  Killed — 
*Captain  Hatch  Captures  a  Rebel  Stand  of  Colors— The  Enemy  Throw  down 
Their  Arms — Report  of  the  Battle — Death  of  D.  Webster  Smith — Dangerous 
Service — Consolidation  of  the  First  Corps  into  One  Division — Voting  in  the 
Army.  .........  305 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

On  the  March — First  Hatcher's  Run — Distributing  Clothing — Sad  Reminiscences 
— The  Re-Election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in  the  Army — "Worth  More  to  the 
Country  than  a  Victory  Won  "—How  the  Rebels  Relished  it— Fort  Hell— The 
Truce  Terminated— Thanksgiving  and  the  Northern  Turkeys.  .  313 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Another  Advance — Hicksford  Raid — Report  of  General  Hofmann — March  of  Fifty 
Miles — Consolidation  of  the  Seventy-sixth  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
seventh  New  York — Farewell  to  the  Sacred  Number.  .  .  .  321 


CONTENTS.  15 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

The  Army  in  Winter  Quarters— Negotiations  of  President  Lincoln  for  Peace- 
Orders  to  Advance— Flanking  the  Enemy— Second  Battle  of  Hatcher's  Run— 
The  Third  Division,  Fifth  Corps,  Suffers  Severely— Summary  of  Casualties- 
Changing  Camp— Third  "  Winter  Quarters."  ....  327 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Another  Advance— Battle  of  Five  Forks— Repulses  and  Successes— Brilliant 
Charges — Important  Captures — A  Lull  in  Battle — Petersburg  Evacuated — The 
Rebels  Retreat  from  Richmond— Pursuit  of  the  Rebel  Army— "  In  at  the  Death" 
Lee  Surrenders — Rejoicing.  ......  333 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

The  Surrender  of  Johnston— Murder  of  President  Lincoln— Homeward  Bound- 
March  to  Petersburg— " On  to  Richmond"—  Fredcricksburg— Crossing  the  Old 
Camp— March  to  Arlington  Heights— The  Grand  Review— Coming  Home— 
"Expended  in  the  Service."  .  .  341 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Colonel  Nelson  Winch  Green,  345.  Colonel  William  P.  Wainwright,  348.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  John  D.  Shaul,  350.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Andrew  J.  Grover,  351. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  A.  Watkins,  355.  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  E. 
Cook,  350.  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Amos  L.  Swan,  357.  Major  John  W. 
Young,  358.  Surgeon  Judson  C.  Nelson,  360.  Surgeon  George  W.  Metcalfe, 
302.  Chaplain  II.  Stone  Richardson,  363.  Adjutant  Heman  F.  Robinson,  363. 
Adjutant  Hubert  Carpenter,  365.  Lieutenant  U.  A.  Burnham,  Q.  M.,  367.  Ser 
geant-Major  Thomas  Martin,  367.  Captain  H  W.  Pierce,  369.  Lieutenant  W. 
H.  Ripley,  369.  Captain  O.  C.  Fox,  370.  Captain  Robert  Story,  371.  Lieutcn- 
nant  C.  D.  Crandall,  372.  Lieutenant  W.  S.  Walcott,  373.  Lieutenant  Wm.  Ca- 
hill,  374.  Lieutenant  A.  L.  Carter,  376.  Lieutenant  Moses  P.  Marsh,  377.  Lieu 
tenant  Moses  M.  Whitney,  378.  Lieutenant  Carlos  Baldwin,  379.  Lieutenant 
Thomas  F.  Weldon,  379.  Captain  Charles  L.  Watrous,  381.  Captain  Samuel 
M.  By  ram,  381.  Captain  John  M.  Waterman,  382.  Lieutenant  Edward  D. 
Van  Slyck,  383.  Lieutenant  William  H.  Tarbell,  384.  Lieutenant  Lucius 


16  CONTENTS. 

• 

Davis,  385.    Lieutenant  Barnard  Phenis,  386.    Lieutenant  William  Stringham, 

387.  Lieutenant  Theron  C.  Guernsey,  387.    Captain  Norman  G.  Bartholomew, 

388.  Captain  Ira  C.  Potter,  390.     Lieutenant  John  H.  Ballard,  391.     Captain 
John  H.  Barnard,  392.      Captain  James  L.  Goddard,  393.     Lieutenant  William 
Wallace  Green,  394.     Lieutenant  William  H.  Myers,  396.     Lieutenant  Henry 
Cliff,  400.      Captain  Aaron  Sager,  401.      Captain  J.  Church  Hatch,  402.     Lieu 
tenant  John  Fisher,  403.    Captain  Warren  Earle  Evans,  404.    Lieutenant  Ralph 
W.  Carrier,  405.    Lieutenant  Martin  Edgcomb,  406.      Lieutenant  Richard  Wil 
liams,  407.    Captain  Edwin  J.  Swan,  408.    Lieutenant  Job  Norwood,  409. 


ROLLS  OF  FIELD,  STAFF  AND  COMPANIES. 

Field  and  Staff,  411.  Company  A,  411.  Company  B,  413.  Company  C,  415. 
Company  D,  416.  Company  E,  418.  Company  F,  420.  Company  G,  421.  Com 
pany  H,  423.  Company  I,  425.  Company  K,  426. 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE  BULL  RUN  DISASTER— NORTH  UNPREPARED— THE  PEOPLE  AKOUBEU— ORGANIZA 
TION  OP  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  IN  CORTLAND  COUNTY— FIRST  "HAIR-BREADTH  'SCAPE" 
— -McNETT  AND  HIS  ALLEGANY  COMPANY— COLONEL  GREEN  SHOOTS  CAPTAIN  MoNETT 
—GENERAL  JAMES  WOOD— ORDERS  TO  MARCH  TO  ALBANY— ARRIVAL  AT  ALBANY- 
INDICTMENT  AND  TRIAL  OF  COLONEL  GREEN. 

THE  Twenty-first  day  of  July,  1S61,  will  ever  be  re 
membered  in  the  history  of  the  United  States.  "Warlike 
preparations  had  been  made  previous  to  that  date,  and  the 
country  was  filled  with  inflammatory  speeches  and  prophecies, 
but  so  much  had  been  said  by  the  rebellious  leaders  in  the 
South  whenever  they  had  been  defeated  in  their  schemes ;  so 
much  belligerent  spirit  had  for  a  time  shown  itself,  only  to 
ooze  out  at  their  fingers'  ends,  that  the  North  had  come  to 
believe  all  the  talk  at  the  South  about  war  was  only  a  repeti 
tion  of  the  bravado  which  had  characterized  that  section  in 
other  contests.  The  apparent  warlike  preparations  and  the 
actual  taking  of  Fort  Sumter,  were  considered  mere  menaces 
to  frighten  the  timid,  and  thus  aid  the  time-serving,  self-styled 

B 


18  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

Conservatives  of  the  North,  while  the  whole  insurrection 
would  be  quelled  in  a  month  or  two,  and  nobody  would  be 
hurt.  This  feeling  was  all  but  unanimous  at  the  North. 
President  Lincoln  was  considered  hasty  and  unnecessarily 
frightened  when  he  issued  his  call  for  seventy-five  thousand 
men,  and  the  tax-payers  already  began  to  fear  that  keeping  so 
many  men,  even  for  a  few  months,  would  overwhelm  the 
country  with  taxation.  They  little  realized  the  vast  and  inex 
haustible  resources  of  this  country.  The  collection  of  an 
army  around  Washington  was  looked  upon  more  in  the  light 
of  a  marshal  or  sheriff  calling  a  IJQSSC  comitatus  to  quell  a 
riot,  than  the  commander-in-chief  marshaling  an  army  to  de 
fend  the  very  existence  of  the  Government.  On  the  part  of 
the  North  no  need  was  felt  for  drill  or  other  preparation.  It 
was  only  deemed  necessary  to  arm  a  few  men,  march  to 
the  camp  of  the  rioters  and  disperse  them  ;  and  when  fifty 
thousand  men  were  said  to  be  in  arms,  in  and  around  Wash 
ington,  the  masses  considered  the  army  of  the  North  invincible. 
"  Our  army  is  beaten  !"  "  Total  rout !"  "  The  Federal  army 
flying  in  disorder  upon  Washington  !"  "  The  Capital  in  dan 
ger!"  These  were  the  first  greetings  flashed  from  this 
invincible  army  by  the  telegraph. 

Then  it  was  that  little  groups  of  men  were  seen,  hurriedly 
canvassing  the  best  methods  of  sending  aid  to  the  Govern 
ment.  The  supposed  invincible  army  had  been  defeated. 
The  North  was  for  the  time  crushed.  The  riot  had  proved  a 
rebellion,  and  the  North,  though  but  partially  aroused,  caught 
a  glimpse  of  the  ^herculean  task  before  it.  Old  men  shed 
tears ;  young  men  rushed  to  the  Capital ;  companies  were 
formed  in  every  county,  city  and  village,  for  the  purpose  of 
discipline  and  drill ;  and  everything  bespoke  the  intense  feel 
ing  of  the  people,  as  the  cloud  of  defeat  darkened  the  political 
horizon. 


ORGANIZATION  AT  COKTLAND.  19 

It  was  in  this  dark  and  trying  time  that  a  few  men  assem 
bled  in  a  law-office,  in  Cortland  Village,  to  consider  the 
question,  what  could  be  done  by  Cortland  county  to  aid  the 
Government.  A  great  diversity  of  opinion  existed.  One 
full  company — Captain  Clark's — had  been  sent  out  in  May, 
with  the  Twenty-third  New  York  Volunteers.  Several 
thought  another  such  drain  upon  the  young  men,  would  leave 
us  sadly  in  want  of  help.  Others  were  more  hopeful,  and 
estimated  the  number  at  five  hundred,  that,  by  proper  exer 
tion  on  the  part  of  every  loyal  man,  might  be  raised.  One 
man — Nelson  W.  Green,  afterwards  Colonel,  in  whose  sanguine 
temperament  faith  and  confidence  bore  a  more  conspicuous 
part — alone  suggested  that  a  regiment  might  be  raised  in  this 
vicinity.  Even  the  awkward  pretense  of  the  old-fashioned 
u  general  trainings  "  had  passed  away,  and  the  people  had  very 
little  idea  of  military  life  or  of  their  military  strength.  Mr. 
Green  had  been  partially  educated  at  West  Point,  from  which 
he  had  been  discharged  on  account  of  a  wound,  and  was, 
therefore,  supposed  to  understand  the  science  of  arms  better 
than  the  denizens  of  a  strictly  agricultural  community.  lie 
had  consented  to  drill  a  company  once  or  twice  a  week  at  the 
village  hall,  and  consequently  in  a  short  time  had  become  the 
military  man  of  the  village.  For  these  reasons  chiefly  he  was 
chosen  at  this  informal  meeting  as  the  leader  in  the  experi 
ment  of  raising  a  company  or  companies,  and,  if  possible,  a 
regiment,  in  Cortland  and  the  adjacent  counties.  On  a  more 
thorough  canvass,  it  was  determined  to  attempt  the  organiza 
tion  of  a  full  regiment.  lion.  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  then 
Governor,  authorized  Mr.  Green  to  raise  a  regiment,  with  its 
headquarters  temporarily  at  Cortland,  with  the  assurance  that, 
when  a  sufficient  number  of  men  were  enlisted  to  justify  the 
establishment  of  a  camp  there,  he  would  order  that  one  be 
established.  The  following  circular  was  immediately  sent  to 
every  leading  citizen  in  the  county : — 


20  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

FREEMEN  TO  THE  RESCUE ! 

To  THE  CITIZENS  OF  CORTLAND  AND  ADJOINING  COUNTIES  : — 

Lvy«l  Friends: — It  behooves  us  to  address  to  you  a  few  earnest  and 
practical  words  in  behalf  of  our  disturbed  countiy. 

It  cannot  be  unappreciated  by  you  that  at  this  moment  the  greatest  issue 
of  the  age  is  pending;  that  the  best,  and  mildes{,  and  freest  Government 
ever  known  to  mankind  is  in  imminent  peril;  that  the  national  enemies  are 
fully  armed,  alert,  banded  and  desperate,  while  the  peaceful  and  home- 
loving  loyalists  of  the  great  and  powerful  North  are  comparatively 
unaroused;  that  within  the  next  ninety  days  the  enemy  must  be  crippled, 
or  otherwise  this  great  people,  now  familiar  only  with  the  arts  of  peace, 
must  know  also  the  arts  as  well  as  the  calamities  of  war;  that  nothing  but 
a  prompt  rally  to  the  nation's  standard,  to  the  flag  of  our  fathers,  can  avert 
the  necessity  of  passing  this  war  down  to  the  next  generation,  when  it 
should  be  only  a  war  of  to-day.  Delay  docs  but  invite  foreign  interference. 

With  these  evident  and  startling  facts  before  us,  and  impelled  by  duty,  it 
has  been  deemed  advisable  to  make  a  strong  and  united  effort  to  organize, 
arm,  equip  and  bring  to  the  field,  at  once,  a  well-drilled  regiment  of  infantry 
from  these  central  counties;  and  looking  into  our  own  hearts  and  knowing 
the  tone  and  character  and  the  patriotism  of  these  counties — the  heart  of 
the  Empire  State,  whose  great  past  has  so  well  illustrated  its  motto  of  "  Ex 
celsior," — it  has  not  been  doubted  that  to  open  the  way  for  such  an  enterprise 
would  be  to  insure  its  success. 

Having  this  end  in  view,  the  undersigned  have  procured  from  the  Adju 
tant-General  of  the  State  the  necessary  authority  and  made  the  following 
arrangements,  viz : — "  That  whenever  eight  companies  for  the  force  now 
organizing  under  General  Order  No.  78,  of  not  less  than  82  men  each,  shall 
have  assembled  at  (Cortland  Village),  and  shall  have  been  inspected  and 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  that  said  point  of  rendez 
vous  shall  be  considered  a  branch  of  the  Depot  at  Albany,  and  30  cents  per 
clay  for  subsistence  shall  thereafter  be  allowed  for  each  recruit,  until  the 
regiment  shall  be  organized  or  ordered  into  service." 

Therefore  the  attention  of  our  fellow  citizens  is  called  to  the  following 

DIRECTIONS. 

Any  and  all  persons  wishing  to  organize  a  company  for  the  above  regi 
ment  will 

First — Ascertain  how  many  able-bodied  men,  between  the  ages  of  18  and 
45  can  be  enrolled  in  their  locality. 

Second — If  G4  men  cannot  be  so  enrolled,  (exclusive  of  officers,  of  whom 
there  will  be  16,  to  wit: — 8  corporals,  5  sergeants,  and  3  commissioned 


CALL  TO  THE  EESCUE,  21 

officers),  then  to  unite  with  one  or  more  other  towns  or  neighborhoods, 
until  the  requisite  number  can  be  made  up. 

Third — When  32  of  the  said  number  are  so  enrolled,  to  report  the  fact 
immediately  by  mail  to  Nelson  W.  Green,  Cortland  Village,  N.  Y.,  and  pro 
ceed  at  once  to  enrol  the  remaining  number  of  64  privates,  and  when  that 
number  is  completed,  to  also  report  that  fact  as  above. 

Upon  application,  the  necessary  papers  of  enlistment  will  be  sent  to 
those  wishing  to  organize  companies. 

The  undersigned  would  add  that  they  have  entire  confidence  in  the  com 
petency  of  Nelson  W.  Green,  Esq.,  to  whom  the  reports  of  enrollments  are 
asked  to  be  made,  he  having  received  a  military  education  at  West  Point. 

The  volunteers,  as  they  arrive  will  have  the  benefit  of  a  perfect  drill 
under  Mr.  Green. 

Dated  Cortland  Village,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  2,  1861. 
HIRAM;  CRANDALL,  County  Judge,      HENRY  STEPHENS, 
R.  II.  DUELL,  M.  C.,  HENRY  S.  RANDALL, 

II.  J.  MESSENGER,  Banker,  HORATIO  BALLARD, 

WM.  R.  RANDALL,  Banker,  CHARLES  FOSTER, 

A.  W.  OGDEN,  County  Clerk,  ARTHUR  HOLMES, 

SILAS  BALDWIN,  Sheriff,  J.  T.  DAVIDSON, 

A.  J.  GROVER,  Pastor  M.  E.  Church,  DANIEL  NYE, 
GEO.  B.  JONES,  District  Attorney,       JOSTAH  HART,  Jr., 
CHARLES  P.  COLE,  Editor  Gazette,       M.  M.  WATEBS, 
E.  D.  VAN  SLYCK,  Editor  Banner,      A.  P.  SMITH, 
FRED  A.  GEE,  P.  B.  DAVIS, 

FREDERICK  IVES,  II.  A.  JARVIS, 

II.  P.  GOODRICH,  ANSON  FAIRCHILD, 

JOSIAII  HART,  L.  II.  UTLEY, 

E.  II.  DOUD,  F.  GOODYEAR,  M.  !)., 

J.  S.  BARBER,  G.  N.  COPELAND, 

M.  GOODRICH,  D.  C.  CLOYES, 

S.  BREWER,  M.  GOODYEAR,  M.  D. 

Persons  wishing  to  form  companies  will  be  furnished  with  speakers  to 
address  public  meetings,  upon  application  to  N.  W.  Green. 

Pursuant  to  this  call,  meetings  were  held  in  every  town, 
addressed  by  the  patriotic  of  all  professions ;  the  people  be 
came  thoroughly  aroused,  and  the  work  of  recruiting  went  so 
rapidly  forward,  that  an  order  soon  came  to  form  a  camp  at 
Cortland.  The  Fair  Grounds  were  leased  of  the  Cortland 


22  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

County  Agricultural  Society,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  da)7  of 
September,  1861,  the  enlisted  men  were  called  together.  A 
large  tent  was  procured  and  erected  upon  the  Grounds ;  the 
open  sheds  of  the  Agricultural  Society  were  enclosed,  new 
barracks  erected,  and,  in  a  very  short  time,  the  Fair  Grounds 
presented  the  appearance  of  respectable  regimental  winter 
quarters.  The  nights  were  becoming  cool,  and  the  recruits, 
unaccustomed  to  the  hardships  and  privations  of  camp  life, 
began  to  feel  keenly  the  need  of  fuel  and  clothing.  The 
patriotic  ladies  contributed  freely  of  blankets,  coverlets,  towels 
and  such  other  things  as  were  needed  to  make  the  camp  seem 
homelike,  while  each  company  was  gratuitously  furnished 
with  one  or  more  stoves. 

The  twenty-seventh  of  September,  the  second  night  in 
camp,  as  the  men  had  fallen  asleep  on  their  loose  straw  upon 
the  ground,  suddenly  there  came  a  crash,  and,  as  they  awoke, 
they  found  themselves  in  a  drenching  rain,  with  their  tent 
prostrate  upon  them,  and  the  wind  blowing  almost  a  gale. 
At  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  with  scarcely  a  dry  thread  upon 
them,  these  unfledged  warriors  were  obliged  to  seek  shelter 
from  the  rain  in  the  barracks.  This  was  the  first  instance  oi' 
"  hair-breadth  'scapes  "  experienced  by  the  recruits,  and  fur 
nished  the  text  for  many  a  discourse  upon  the  adventures  of 
the  soldier,  as  their  friends  came  to  visit  them. 

It  had  now  become  very  cold.  Meetings  had  been  held  in 
nearly  every  school-district ;  young  men,  with  enlistment 
papers,  had  visited  every  man  capable  of  performing  military 
duty,  each  ambitious  to  procure  as  many  men  as  possible, 
prompted  by  patriotic  motives  and  stimulated  by  the  pros 
pect  of  a  commission  or  other  honorable  position ;  and 
altogether  about  eight  hundred  and  forty  men  were  enlisted 
by  the  first  of  December,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  filling  the 
regiment  to  its  maximum  number  during  the  month.  It  had 


GREEN  AND  MC^ETT.  23 

already  received  the  name  of  the  SEVENTY-SIXTH — an  honorable 
number  in  the  estimation  of  every  loyal  American — and 
several  of  its  companies  were  properly  organized  and  mus 
tered.  Clothing  had  been  furnished  by  the  Quartermaster's 
Department,  and  though  no  arms  had  been  received,  the  men 
presented  a  soldierly  appearance  as  they  formed  in  line  on 
dress  parade. 

At  this  time,  (December  sixth),  an  incident  occurred  which 
entirely  changed  the  prospects  of  the  Regiment,  and  blighted 
the  hopes  of  its  friends  for  its  complete  and  harmonious  or 
ganization  and  equipment,  before  leaving  the  county. 

Mr.  Green,  who  had  now  become  Colonel  of  the  Regiment, 
had  made  an  arrangement  with  Mr.  Andrew  J.  McNett,  of 
Allegany  county,  by  which  McNett,  who  had  seventy  men  or 
thereabouts,  was  to  recruit  his  company  to  the  maximum 
strength  and  join  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  as  Captain,  and 
on  the  performance  of  certain  conditions,  McNett  was  to  be 
made  Major  of  the  Regiment.  Captain  McNett  joined  the 
Regiment  sometime  in  October  with  about  seventy  men. 
Colonel  Green  assisted  in  raising  the  number  to  upwards  of 
ninety,  by  adding  to  the  company  certain  men  who  had  been 
brought  by  II.  W.  Pierce,  of  Dundee,  Yates  county.  These 
men — about  twenty-five  in  all,  fifteen  or  twenty  of  whom 
.were  put  into  Captain  MoN~ett's  company — were  brought  by 
Mr.  Pierce,  who  was  to  be  Captain  ;  but  failing  to  procure  the 
required  number,  he  was  made  Lieutenant  in  Captain  Grover's 
company,  and  his  men  distributed  between  Captain  Grover's 
and  Captain  McISTett's  companies.  The  latter  part  of  Novem 
ber,  Captain  McNett  procured  a  leave  of  absence  to  go  to 
Syracuse  to  purchase  his  uniform,  and  to  Allegany  county  to 
procure  more  men.  On  his  return,  a  few  days  after  this, 
Colonel  Green  charged  him  with  having  used  his  leave  of 
absence  to  go  to  Albany,  to  stir  up  strife,  in  violation  of  the 


24:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

understanding  when  ho  received  it,  and  ordered  him  to  give 
up  the  paper  as  fraudulently  obtained.  This  Captain  McNett 
refused  to  do.  Colonel  Green  then  ordered  it  taken  from 
McNett  by  Captain  Grover.  McNett  made  a  formal  resist 
ance,  but  unbuttoned  his  coat  and  Captain  Grover  took  the 
document  from  McNett's  pocket.  Colonel  Green  then  ordered 
Captain  McNett  in  close  arrest  in  the  officers'  quarters,  with 
orders  that  he  be  permitted  to  communicate  with  no  one, 
except  by  permission  from  the  commandant  of  the  post.  This 
created  some  feeling  in  Captain  McNett's  company,  and  gave 
rise  to  much  angry  discussion  in  camp. 

On  the  sixth  of  December,  Colonel  Green  had  been  to  Cap 
tain  McNett's  company,  to  adjust  some  difficulty,  and  on  his 
return,  when  riding  past  the  officers'  quarters,  saw  Captain 
McNett  standing  in  the  door-way.  Colonel  Green  claims  the 
Captain  was  outside  the  door,  shaking  hands  with  his  men,  in 
violation  of  orders.  Captain  McNett  claims  he  was  inside  the 
door,  though  near  it,  where  he  had  resorted  to  get  fresh  air. 
We  give  both  versions,  as  this  history  is  not  written  with  the 
view  of  vindicating  or  condemning  either  party,  and  this  inci 
dent  is  only  mentioned  as  one  that  had  something  of  a 
controlling  influence  upon  the  subsequent  history  of  the  Regi 
ment.  As  Captain  McNett  was  thus  standing  in  or  near  the 
door,  Colonel  Green  rode  up  and  the  following  dialogue,  in 
substance,  took  place : 

Col.  Green. — The  prisoner  should  not  leave  his  quarters. 
Retire  to  your  quarters. 

Capt.  McNett. — I  shall  not,  sir. 

Col.  Green. — Do  you  refuse  to  obey  my  orders,  sir '? 

Capt.  McNett. — I  do,  such  orders. 

Col.  Green. — (Dismounting  and  drawing  a  small  Smith  & 
Wesson  pistol),  Will  you  retire  to  your  quarters  ? 

Capt.  McNett.— I  will  not,  sir  ! 


SHOOTING  or  McNETT.  25 

Colonel  Green,  at  this  point,  iired  over  the  head  of  the  Cap 
tain,  the  ball  lodging  in  the  roof  of  the  quarters. 

CoL  Green. — Retire  to  your  quarters,  sir  ! 

dipt.  McNett. — (Straightening  up),  I  will  not,  sir  !  Shoot 
me  if  you  dare  ! 

The  Colonel  then  lowered  the  pistol  and  fired,  the  ball  taking 
elfect  in  the  Captain's  chin,  and  lodging  in  his  neck.  McNett 
immediately  turned  around  and  sat  down  in  a  chair.  The 
Surgeon  of  the  post,  Dr.  J.  C.  Nelson,  wras  called,  and  the 
wound  dressed. 

This  very  naturally  created  great  excitement  in  camp  and 
the  vicinity.  Colonel  Green  had,  by  his  patriotic  course,  en 
deared  himself  to  many  of  the  loyal  people.  Captain  MdSTett 
was  not  without  friends,  who  gathered  around  him,  and,  in  the 
discussion  that  followed  this  affair,  excitement  ran  high.  The 
Governor  was  informed  of  the  affair,  and  sent  General  James 
Wood  to  Cortland  to  ascertain  the  facts,  and  in  the  meantime 
to  take  command  of  the  Regiment.  General  Wood  arrived 
December  ninth,  and  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  met  the 
officers  of  the  'Regiment,  when  a  full  interchange  of  opinion 
was  had.  The  officers  were  nearly  or  quite  unanimous  in 
approval  of  the  course  taken  by  Colonel  Green,  and  so 
expressed  themselves.  The  next  day  the  General  visited  the 
camp  and  possessed  himself  of  all  the  material  facts  connected 
with  the  history  of  the  Regiment.  On  the  thirteenth  of  De 
cember,  General  Wood  again  met  the  officers  at  the  house  of 
Colonel  Green,  when  the  matter  was  again  fully  canvassed. 
The  next  day  Colonel  Green  was  arrested  on  a  criminal  war 
rant,  for  the  shooting,  and  gave  bail  before  the  County  Judge 
for  his  appearance  at  the  Oyer  and  Terminer,  to  be  held 
in  January  following,  to  answer  an  indictment  to  be  found 
against  him  for  an  assault  with  intent  to  kill.* 

*  An  indictment  was  found  for  said  offense  at  said  Court,  and  Colonel  Green  gave  bail  for  his 
appearance  at  the  next  Court.    Since  writing  the  above,  he  has  been  tried  (at  the  Cortland  Oyer 


26  TflE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

After  giving  bail,  on  the  fourteenth  Colonel  Green  and  Gen 
eral  Wood  set  out  for  Albany  to  confer  with  the  Governor, 
On  the  sixteenth  orders  were  telegraphed  from  Albany  to  be 
in  readiness  to  proceed  (by  rail)  to  Albany  on  the  following 
day.  Colonel  Green  and  General  Wood  returned,  and  on 
Wednesday,  the  eighteenth  clay  of  December,  1861,  we  took  a 
tearful  leave  of  the  friends,  with  whose  welfare  and  very  life 
ours  was  so  firmly  woven,  and  entered  the  cars  for  Albany. 

Talking  patriotism  is  all  very  pleasant ;  Artemus  Ward  may 
even  be  willing  to  sacrifice  all  his  wife's  relatives  upon  the 
altar  of  his  bleeding  country ;  this  was  a  fashionable  senti 
ment  in  1861 ;  but  if  one  would  test  his  loyalty  let  him  shake 
the  hand  of  a  weeping  wife,  and  give  a  parting  blessing  to  his 
little  ones,  and,  bidding  adieu  to  his  friends,  turn  his  face  to 
the  scene  of  bloodshed  and  carnage,  without  bounty,  on  a  cold 
December  day,  with  nothing  to  cheer  him  on  but  love  of 
country,  and  if  he  does  not  repent  his  enlistment,  set  him 
down  for  at  least  a  prima,  facie  patriot.  We  had  rode  on 
parade  through  Homer  and  Cortland,  been  toasted  and  feasted, 
but  what  was  all  that  gaudy  show,  now  that  we  were  to  meet 
the  rcalitv  of  war  ? 


and  Tcrmincr,  held  by  Judge  Boardman  in  April,  18(50),  and  after  a  fair  trial  for  five  days,  the 
Jury,  on  the  morning  of  the  sixth  day,  reported  their  inability  to  agree.  They  were  thereupon 
discharged  and  a  nolle,  prosequi  entered  upon  the  indictment.  The  case  was  very  fully  and 
ably  tried  on  both  sides,  upon  the  question  of  the  legal  right  of  Colonel  Green  to  shoot  the  Cap 
tain,  under  the  circumstances.  Judge  Boardman  laid  down  the  law  with  great  clearness  and 
impartiality,  deciding  that  willful  and  persistent  disobedience  of  orders,  in  the  presence  of 
enlisted  men,  is  mutiny  ;  that  in  cases  of  mutiny,  the  amount  and  kind  of  force  necessary  to 
suppress  it  is  in  the  discretion  of  the  superior  officer,  that  this  camp  was  at  that  time  under 
military  authority,  and  this  shooting  was  to  be  judged  by  military  law. 


CHAPTER   TT. 

ARRIVAL  AT  ALBANY— COURT  or  INQUIRY— COLONEL  GREEN  RESTORED  TO  COMMAND- 
NEW  YEAR'S  PARADE— RECRUITING  THE  OTSEGO  REGIMENT— ORDERED  TO  ALBANY- 
CONSOLIDATION  OP  TUB  Two  REGIMENTS — FLAG  PRESENTATION — SPEECHES — ORDERS 
TO  MARCH— RIKERS'  ISLAND— INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  PAYMASTER— ORDERS  TO  MARCH 
TO  WASHINGTON. 

THE  Regiment  arrived  at  Albany  on  the  evening  of  the 
eighteenth  of  December.  The  wind  blew  cold  and  dreary 
over  Capitol  Hill  as  we  marched  from  the  depot  to  the  bar 
racks,  some  two  miles  distant.  As  the  wind  whistled  through 
the  rough  wooden  quarters  that  night,  and  the  men,  under 
their  scanty  covering,  felt  the  biting  of  that  December  air, 
they  could  not  but  think  of  the  warm  beds  they  left  in  Cort- 
land  county,  and  hopefully  look  forward  to  the  time  when, 
the  rebellion  crushed,  the  country  saved,  they  should  again 
enjoy  the  comforts  of  those  homes,  now  fully  appreciated.  The 
measles  had  broken  out  in  camp  previous  to  leaving  Cortland, 
and  many  of  the  men  were  weak  and  illy  prepared  for  the 
exposures  that  awaited  them.  A  severe  snow  storm  soon  set 
in,  and  in  a  few  days  the  snow  was  piled  so  high  that  drilling 
was  impossible.  General  Rathbone,  in  command  of  the  post, 
did  all  in  his  power  to  make  the  men  comfortable,  but  not 
withstanding  this,  many  suffered  severely. 

Colonel  Green  had  requested  the  Governor  to  convene  a 
Court  of  Inquiry  in  his  case,  which  was  done,  and  on  the 


28  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

twenty-first  of  December  the  hearing  commenced.  The  Court 
was  presided  over  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  LaFayette  Bingham. 
Judge-Advocate-General  Anthon  conducted  the  prosecution, 
and  Clark  B.  Cochrane  and  A.  P.  Smith  the  defense.  The 
investigation  consumed  three  days,  when  the  findings  of  the 
Court  were  submitted  to  the  Governor.  On  the  twenty-eighth 
of  December  the  Governor  announced  the  decision  by  placing 
Colonel  Green  in  command  of  the  Regiment.  This  announce 
ment  was  received  with  many  cheers  by  the  officers  and  men, 
and  the  prospects  of  the  Regiment  seemed  to  brighten. 

New  Year's  immediately  followed  the  restoration  of  Colonel 
Green  to  command,  and  was  a  gala  day  for  the  troops  sta 
tioned  at  Albany.  The  Seventy-sixth  was  drawn  up  in  line, 
with  the  Ninety-third  New  York  Volunteers,  and  a  battery  of 
artillery,  in  all  about  twenty-five  hundred  men,  Colonel  Green 
commanding  the  battalion.  It  formed  at  the  barracks  and 
marched  to  the  Capitol,  where  each  man  was  received  and 
warmly  shaken  by  the  hand  by  Governor  Morgan.  Thence 
the  battalion  marched  to  the  Delavan  House,  where  they 
were  addressed  by  Hon.  Horatio  Ballard,  Secretary  of  State, 
and  by  the  heroic  Colonel  Mulligan  ;  thence  to  pay  their  re 
spects  to  Hon.  C.  B.  Cochrane,  who  had  so  ably  defended  the 
Colonel,  and  thence  to  the  barracks.  Albany  wore  her  holi 
day  dress,  and  the  parade  was  enjoyed  by  both  citizens  and 
soldiers. 

While  the  Cortland  branch  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment 
was  being  recruited,  as  we  have  related,  a  similar  effort  was 
being  made  to  raise  a  full  regiment  in  Otsego  and  Schoharie 
counties,  with  headquarters  at  Cherry  Valley.  In  September, 
1861,  the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment  New  York  State  National 
Guards,  at  a  general  parade,  overcome  by  the  sentiment  of 
loyalty  which  pervaded  the  country,  had  authorized  their 
Colonel,  John  D.  Shaul,  to  tender  the  services  of  the  regiment 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  CHEERY  VALLEY  BRANCH.      20 

to  the  Governor  for  active  service  in  the  field.  About  thclirst 
of  October,  General  George  E.  Danforth,  of  Middleburg, 
commanding  the  brigade  of  militia  to  which  the  Thirty-ninth 
was  attached,  received  orders  to  proceed  at  once  to  recruit  and 
organize  the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment  for  active  service.  The 
order  established  a  branch  depot  at  Cherry  Valley,  and  made 
General  Danforth  commandant  of  the  post.  Many  of  the  offi 
cers  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment  tendered  their  resignations. 
But  on  the  fourteenth  of  October,  about  seventy-five  men  were 
waiting  to  be  mustered  into  service  at  Cherry  Valley,  being 
parts  of  the  companies  of  Captains  A.  L.  Swan,  John  E.  Cook, 
and  John  "W.  Young.  An  officer  was  sent  from  Albany  to  mus 
ter  such  companies  as  contained  the  minimum  number — thirty- 
two.  There  not  being  enough  present  for  three  companies, 
two,  Captain  Cook's  (company  B),  and  Young's  (company  C), 
were  filled  to  the  requisite  number,  and  mustered  on  the  four 
teenth  of  October.  Captain  Swan's  company  wras  mustered 
on  the  twenty-second.  Meetings  were  held  in  all  parts  of  the 
counties  of  Otsego  and  Schoharie,  and  recruiting  went  on  brisk 
ly  for  a  time,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  ultimately  filling  the  Reg 
iment  to  its  maximum  strength.  This  was  the  first  Regiment 
raised  in  Otsego  county,  and  wras  the  pride  and  pet  of  the  people. 

Dr.  George  W.  Metcalfe  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  Reg 
iment,  and  Examining  Surgeon  of  the  post.  Andrew  R. 
Smith  was  made  Quartermaster,  and  by  his  faithful  attention 
to  the  duties  of  his  office — an  office  the  duties  of  which  are 
not  surpassed  in  difficulties  during  the  organization — won 
golden  opinions  from  his  brother  officers. 

The  Regiment  wras  quartered  in  a  large  stone  hop  house,  and 
the  Colonel  gave  daily  lessons  in  company  and  regimental 
drill.  Armed  sentries,  with  flint-locks  from  the  State  arsenals, 
paced  their  "  beats,"  military  rules  and  regulations  were  en 
forced  in  camp,  and  everything  that  could  be  done  was 


30  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

brought  into  requisition  to  make  true  soldiers  of  the  yeomanry 
of  Otsego  and  Schoharie.  The  liberal  sums  of  money  expended 
by  General  Danforth,  Colonel  Shaul  and  Quartermaster 
Smith,  with  their  influence  and  advice,  had  greatly  aided  the 
company  officers  in  forming  and  recruiting  their  companies. 
Adjutant  James  Davenport,  of  Richfield  Spa,  and  the  other 
field  and  staff  officers  had  bestowed  much  time,  money  and 
influence  upon  the  organization,  but  on  the  eighth  of  January, 
1862,  only  six  companies,  in  all  about  five  hundred  men,  had 
been  mustered  into  service.  At  this  time  an  order  was  re 
ceived  for  the  Regiment  to  proceed  to  Albany.  The  order 
was  as  unexpected  as  it  was  unwelcome.  The  troops  and 
the  people  had  fondly  hoped  that  they  would  be  permitted  to 
send  out  a  full  regiment,  armed  and  equipped.  Each  county 
in  the  country  felt  a  proper  desire  to  send  out  a  complete  or 
ganization  which  should  represent  the  loyalty  of  that  partic 
ular  locality,  whose  achievements  and  glory  should  belong 
exclusively  to  such  locality.  But  military  orders  must  be 
obeyed,  and  on  the  eighth  day  of  January,  the  six  companies— 
now  consolidated  into  five,  and  commanded  by  Captains  A.  L. 
Swan,  J.  E.  Cook,  J.  W.  Young,  E.  ]ST.  Hanson,  and  N.  Bow- 
dish — left  Cherry  Valley  in  upwards  of  fifty  sleighs  furnished 
by  the  citizens  of  that  vicinity,  and  proceeded  to  the  railroad 
at  Canajoharie,  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles.  They  arrived  in 
Albany  after  dark  by  a  special  train,  and  were  escorted  to 
camp  by  company  A,  of  the  Seventy-sixth.  The  Otsego  Reg 
iment  passed  a  cold  night  in  their  barn-like  barracks,  without 
fire,  and  many  without  blankets.  Poor  fellows !  they  after 
ward  found  that  what  now  seemed  "  grievous  to  be  borne," 
was  but  "  the  beginning  of  sorrows." 

At  the  time  the  Cortland  branch  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Reg 
iment  reached  Albany,  it  numbered  about  eight  hundred  men. 
The  Governor  considered  it  improper  that  Colonel  Green  and 


CONSOLIDATION  OF  THE  Two  REGIMENTS.  31 

Captain  McNett  should  longer  be  associated  as  officers  of  the 
same  regiment,  and  of  the  correctness  of  that  conclusion  no 
one  acquainted  with  the  facts  and  the  men  could  have  any 
doubt.  They  are  both  positive  men,  of  unyielding  will,  and 
diametrically  opposed  on  almost  every  question  that  would  be 
likely  to  arise.  Looking  at  the  war,  its  causes,  its  objects,  and 
the  manner  in  which  it  should  be  prosecuted,  from  entirely 
different  and  opposite  stand-points,  it  would  have  been  as  dif- 
iicult  to  harmonize  their  views,  and  bring  them  to  act  together, 
especially  after  what  had  already  transpired,  as  it  would  be  to 
unite  oil  and  water.  The  Governor,  therefore,  preserved  the 
organization  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment, with  Colonel  Green 
as  its  commander,  and  transferred  McNett  and  his  company  to 
the  Ninety-third  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  then  sta 
tioned  at  Albany,  and  commanded  by  Colonel  Crocker.  At 
the  same  time,  Captain  J.  Y.  White,  who  had  joined  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  with  about  forty-five  men,  requested  to  be  trans 
ferred  to  the  Third  New  York  Artillery,  which  request  was 
granted.  The  remaining  companies  of  the  Seventy-sixth  were 
consolidated  into  seven — A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F  and  G.  Three 
companies  were  transferred  from  the  Otsego  Regiment  to  the 
Seventy-sixth,  as  follows : — The  company  commanded  by 
Captain  A.  L.  Swan  became  company  Ii  ;  the  company  com 
manded  by  Captain  Cook  became  company  I,  and  the  company 
commanded  by  Captain  Young  became  company  K.  Each 
company,  so  far  as  possible,  retained  its  company  officers.  The 
Held  and  staff  were  distributed  as  follows  : — 

Colonel — N.  "W.  GKEEN,  of  Cortland. 

Lieutenant-Colonel — JOHN  D.  SIIAUL,  of  Springfield. 

Major — CHAKLES  E.  LIVINGSTON,  of  New  York  city. 

Surgeon — J.  C,  NELSON,  of  Truxton,  Cortland  county. 

Assistant-Surgeon — GEO.  W,  METCALFE,  of  Otsego  county. 

Chaplain — H.  STONE  RICHAKDSON,  of  New  York  Mills. 


32  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Adjutant— HEMAN  F.  ROBINSON,  of  Cortland. 

Quartermaster — A.  P.  SMITH,  of  Cortland. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant — ALBERT  J.  JARVIS,  of  Cortland. 

Commissary  Sergeant — WILLIAM  STORKS,  of  Allegany. 

The  two  Otsego  companies,  commanded  by  Captains  Han 
son  and  Bowdish,  were  transferred  with  Captain  White  to  the 
Third  New  York  Artillery.  Thus  the  Seventy-sixth  had 
passed  through  the  formation  state,  the  tendency  of  which  is 
to  engender  ill  feelings  between  the  officers,  and  before  it  was 
as  fair  a  prospect  of  unity  and  usefulness  as  the  most  sanguine 
could  desire. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  January,  1862,  orders  were  received  to 
be  ready  to  march  to  ISTew  York  City  on  the  following  day. 
All  was  tumult  and  confusion.  The  Regiment  had  not  yet 
been  provided  knapsacks,  haversacks,  or  camp  and  garrison 
equipage,  and  the  day  was  busily  occupied  in  distributing 
these  necessaries  to  the  men. 

When  the  time  arrived  to  march,  everything  was  in  readi 
ness,  and  at  two  P.  M.,  on  the  seventeenth,  the  Regiment  left 
the  barracks  and  marched  to  the  Capitol.  Here  a  beautiful 
stand  of  colors  was  presented  to  the  Regiment  by  S.  R.  Camp 
bell,  Esq.,  in  behalf  of  his  mother,  Mrs.  Samuel  Campbell,  of 
]STew  York  Mills.  Mr.  Samuel  Campbell,  a  man  of  wealth  and 
character,  had  been  a  sort  of  god-father  to  the  Seventy-sixth 
Regiment,  presenting  the  Colonel  and  Chaplain  each  with  a 
splendid  black  war  steed,  with  equipments  complete,  and  in 
many  other  ways  at  great  expense  and  trouble  aided  the  Reg 
iment.  This  would  it  is  believed  be  deemed  a  sufficient 
apology,  if  apology  were  needed,  for  printing  entire  the  ad 
dresses  made  on  that  occasion.  It  will  be  remembered  that  to 
speak  of  "  liberty  and  equal  rights  to  man"  was,  at  that  time, 
considered  "  radical."  It  was  at  a  time  when  the  poor  African 
came  to  us  torn  and  bleeding,  with  hands  and  eyes  uplifted 


ADDRESS  OF  ME.  CAMPBELL.  33 

imploring  for  protection,  and  the  privilege  of  aiding  in  defense 
of  the  government  that  had  wronged  him,  only  to  be  sent  back 
to  his  bondage  and  his  scourgings !  This  fact  adds  significance 
and  value  to  words  which  now  seem  common  place  :— 

GENTLEMEN  SOLDIERS  OF  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH: — Before  turning  your 
footsteps  away  from  the  Capital  city  of  your  native  State,  you  have  assem 
bled  to  receive  from  my  hands  the  emblem  of  our  common  country ;  and  I 
know  you  will  the  more  gladly  welcome  me  when  I  tell  you  that  I  bring  it 
not  in  my  own  name,  but  as  a  "mother's  gift" — an  earnest  of  that  protection 
which  our  country  gladly  extends  over  all  her  obedient  children  ;  and  sure 
I  am  it  will  prove  no  idle  ornament  to  grace  your  ranks,  but  will  be  borne 
aloft,  if  need  be,  over  victorious  fields,  a  terror  to  traitors  and  tyrants — a 
presence  where  loyalty  may  find  shelter  and  protection — a  fit  symbol  of  the 
majesty  of  our  Government. 

Soldiers,  many  of  you,  perhaps,  are  entering  upon  a  new  and  untried 
life — a  soldier's  life.  You  have  left  your  peaceful  avocations,  and  are  about 
to  meet  the  enemies  of  your  country  in  the  field.  I  know  not  what  form 
in  the  workings  of  "military  necessity"  this  struggle  may  assume.  Coming 
events  are  but  dimly  foreshadowed.  Your  part  in  the  great  struggle  for 
the  unity  of  this  people  is  yet  to  come ;  but  I  do  know  that  when  that  an 
ticipated  time  shall  come,  when  you  are  permitted  to  clothe  your  thoughts 
and  aspirations  in  deed,  they  will  be  such  as  shall  electrify  the  nation,  and 
bring  joy  and  gladness  to  the  hearts  and  homes  of  those  who  claim  your 
deepest  regard  and  warmest  affection. 

You  are  of  that  number,  now  a  great  multitude,  who,  scorning  alike  the 
dangers  of  the  battle-field,  and  the  siren  whispers  of  peace — peace,  when 
there  is  no  peace, — whose  only  ambition  is  the  privilege  of  sacrificing  your 
all  to  insure  the  perpetuity  of  our  free  institutions,  and  the  stability  of  our 
benignant  Government.  To  your  care  I  consign  your  "  country's  flag,"  and 
I  doubt  not  you  will  prove  as  worthy  of  fighting  under  its  "  Stars  and 
Stripes  "  as  were  the  heroes  of  '76.  In  your  hands  it  will  not,  like  that  re 
bellious  standard  of  a  treasonable  foe,  carry  chains  and  captivity  with  it, 
but  its  coming  will  be  the  herald  of  liberty  and  equal  rights  to  all  men. 
Then,  in  the  hour  of  danger  and  peril,  let  every  man  do  his  whole  duty  in 
protecting  that  flag  which  has  so  long  been  our  pride  and  shelter. 

Officers  and  privates,  you  have  a  common  object ;  your  interests  are  one  ; 
the  mutual  respect  and  affection  which  I  know  exists  between  you,  are  pro 
pitious  of  a  brilliant  career ;  that  Regiment  which  bears  the  number  of 
honor  will  never  be  appealed  to  in  vain ;  you  will  always  find  your  chief 
joy  in  the  discharge  ot  these  active  duties,  whether  upon  the  Gulf  or  the 
c 


Si  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

Potomac,  in  that  part  of  our  country  through  which  the  Mississippi  rolls 
its  band  of  waters,  and,  by  its  shining  link,  proclaims  us  one  and  indivisi 
ble,  or  upon  the  shores  of  that  State  whose  very  name  is  an  insult  to  loyalty. 
Wherever  you  ft  ay  go,  there  shall  our  sympathy  and  best  wishes  follow 
you.  The  Empire  State  has  already  spoken  in  thunder  tones ;  you  may 
listen  and  hear  her  words  of  endearment  to  you.  You  shall  always  hear 
her  voice  of  defiance  to  the  enemies  of  our  country. 

"  Startling  ami  stern !  the  northern  winds  shall  bear  it, 

Over  Potomac's  to  St.  Mary's  wave, 

And  buried  freedom  shall  awake  to  hear  it 

Within  the  grave." 

Colonel  Green  replied  as  follows  :— 

MR.  CAMPBELL — Sir : — In  the  name  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  of 
New  York  State  Volunteers,  I  accept  the  colors  now  presented  by  your 
excellent  mother. 

It  is  hazardous  for  untried  men  to  undertake  to  say  what  they  may  do  in 
the  future.  We  have  no  promises  to  make.  We  only  know  how  much  we 
wish  to  do  for  our  bleeding,  struggling  country.  If  our  hearts  and  our 
hopes  were  accepted  as  an  index  of  what  we  are  to  achieve,  these  banners 
will  never  be  dishonored. 

The  embarrassment  of  this  moment  is  this — that  we  so  little  deserve  the 
favors  which  the  confidence  of  our  friends  has  vouchsafed  us.  But  in 
accepting  these  banners,  we  somehow  lose  sight  of  ourselves,  and  only  re 
member  how  beautiful  is  the  soul  that  has  prompted  so  magnificent  a  tribute 
to  the  defenders  of  our  country,  and  how  great  the  peril  which  gives  char 
acter  to  this  occasion.  <* 

Our  poor  country  !  Our  imperiled  flag !  What  bitter  fears,  what  anx 
ious  misgivings  oppress  the  heart  as  we  look  upon  these  symbols  of  our 
Nationality !  The  flag  of  our  fathers— God  defend  it ! 

It  is  fitting,  and  quite  in  keeping  with  the  sublime  significance  of  this 
hour,  that  fair  hands  should  deck  and  elaborate  our  coat  of  arms  and  our 
national  flag ;  that  gentle  hearts  are  prompted  to  make  more  beautiful  these 
symbols  of  our  great  past,  and  we  are  thus  reminded  how  much  they  have 
a  right  to  expect  at  our  hands,  and  how  sacred  the  trust  committed  to  us. 
That  country  must  not  despair  whose  soldiery  goes  to  battle  under  the  in 
spiration  of  such  encouragement.  The  gentle  heart  which  thus  cherishes 
her  country's  flag,  must  love  that  country  with  no  ordinary  devotion. 

We  may  not  tell  what  deeds  of  daring  we  propose  to  do,  but  it  is  per 
mitted  to  hope  that  at  least  somebody  is  to  wage  this  warfare  until  this  most 
unnatural  treason  shall  find  an  utter  end.  Extermination  alone  can  meet 
the  ill-deserving  of  the  race  which  would  deface  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  But 


ARRIVAL  AT  NEW  YORK.  35 

whatever  may  be  the  result  of  this  war,  or  whatever  our  fate,  we  shall  never 
forget  this  noble  proof  of  the  patriotism  of  your  family ;  nor  that  "  '76  is 
on  our  banners."  The  heroic  memories  which  cluster  about  that  number 
shall  inspire  us,  and  when  disasters  or  dangers  shall  thicken  around  us,  we 
shall  take  courage  in  remembering  the  kindness  of  your  mother,  in  whom 
we  recognize  one  of  the  representative  women  of  America. 

Upon  the  presentation,  and  after  they  had  been  formally 
accepted  by  Colonel  Green,  the  Regiment  loudly  called  for 
Governor  Morgan.  His  Excellency  speedily  answered  the 
summons,  and  upon  appearing  upon  the  steps  of  the  Cap 
itol,  was  vociferously  cheered  by  the  soldiers.  Owing  to  the 
prevalence  of  a  snow  storm,  his  address  was  short,  but  the  few 
well-timed  words  he  uttered  were  gladly,  nay,  thankfully  re 
ceived  by  the  volunteers. 

lie  assured  them  that  they  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the 
people  and  expected  them  not  to  betray  that  confidence ;  for 
evidence  as  to  how  faithfully  they  heeded  that  exhortation, 
they  point  with  pride  to  their  record.  At  the  close  of  Governor 
Morgan's  speech,  the  Regiment  moved  down  State  street, 
through  to  Broadway  and  Hamilton  streets,  over  the  bridge  to 
the  Pier,  and  thence  across  the  Hudson  on  the  ice  to  the  Hud 
son  River  Railroad  Depot. 

The  Albany  Evening  Journal  of  that  day,  speaking  of  the 
Seventy-sixth  said  : — "  This  Regiment  is  composed  of  as  fine 
appearing  and  ns  intelligent  a  body  of  men  as  has  been  gath 
ered  together  since  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion." 

At  seven  o'clock  the  regiment  was  aboard  the  cars  for 
New  York,  where  we  arrived  about  noon  the  next  day 
(eighteenth).  Marching  to  City  Hall  Park  Barracks,  we  went 
into  quarters,  where  we  remained  until  Tuesday,  January 
twenty-first,  when  we  were  taken  to  Riker's  Island,  about  ten 
miles  up  the  East  River  from  the  Battery. 

Riker's  Island  contains  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land,  is  low,  and,  being  a  mile  from  the  main  land,  is  much  ex- 


36  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  'N.  Y.  V. 

posed  in  winter.  Besides  the  barracks,  which  were  cheaply 
constructed  wooden  buildings,  there  was  but  one  house.  This 
was  an  old  tavern,  occupied  by  a  low  family,  who  eked  out  a 
miserable  existence  by  selling  cheap  whisky  to  the  lower  class, 
who  resorted  thither  to  fight  men  and  dogs,  run  horses,  and 
enjoy  such  other  sports  as  the  roughs  of  New  York  city  in 
dulge  in. 

Through  the  carelessness  of  the  Post  Quartermaster  at  New 
York,  the  stoves  and  coal  did  not  go  up  on  the  boat  with  the 
Regiment,  but  were  sent  up  on  a  lighter  the  next  day.  The 
night  was  very  cold,  the  wind  whistled  through  the  crevices  in 
the  barracks,  the  ground  was  covered  witli  ice  and  snow,  the 
quantity  of  snow  being  materially  increased  during  the  night 
and  next  day,  and  the  men  suffered  severely. 

The  Regiment  had  not,  at  this  time,  received  any  pay, 
though  many  of  the  men  had  been  in  the  service  nearly  four 
months.  Many  of  them  had  families  depending  upon  their 
earnings  for  support,  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  received  no  local  bounty,  and  the  Government 
bounty  of  §100  was  only  payable  at  the  end  of  two  years' 
service,  it  will  be  understood  that  the  men  were  very  anxious 
to  make  the  acquaintance  of  a  paymaster. 

The  twenty-third  day  of  January,  1862,  will  be  long  re 
membered  by  the  members  of  the  Seventy-sixth  as  the  day 
which,  through  the  medium  of  greenbacks  and  silver,  brought 
happiness  to  their  soldier  hearts.  Few  of  them  slept  that 
night  until  some  portion  of  their  pay  was  on  its  way  to  the 
loved  ones  at  home.  Probably  forty  thousand  dollars  was 
thus  sent  home  at  this  time. 

This  was  the  first  time  we  had  seen  salt  water,  and  the  men 
made  the  most  of  their  opportunity.  If  oysters  and  clams 
hand  down  their  history,  there  will  be  a  number  of  its  pages 
devoted  to  a  description  of  the  depredations  of  the  Seventy- 


OKDEKED  TO  WASHINGTON.  37 

sixth  New  York  Volunteers.  Hoes,  picks,  shovels,  sticks, 
anything  that  could  dig  for  clams  or  rake  for  oysters,  were 
brought  into  requisition,  and  the  "  boys  "  ate  oysters  and  clams 
until  their  stomachs  rebelled  under  the  tyrannical  oppression 
of  their  appetites.  But  soldiers  are  not  long  permitted  to 
remain  in  statu  quo.  Rumors  had  enlivened  the  camp,  of  pro 
jected  expeditions  to  Kentucky,  then  to  Charleston.  But  now 
the  orders  came  to  march  directly  to  Washington. 


CHAPTER   III. 

ORDERS  TO  MARCH— SAIL  DOWN  THE  BAY— RECEPTION  AT  PHILADELPHIA— INFLUENCE 
OP  WOMAN — THE  "MARCH  STRAIGHT  THROUGH  OLD  BALTIMORE1' — CHANGE  OF  SEN 
TIMENT  IN  BALTIMORE— WASHINGTON— FIRST  CAMP  ON  MERIDIAN  HILL— CAMP  TRIALS 
—FIRST  DEATH  IN  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH— MCCLELLAN  MOVES— DIFFICULTY  IN  THE 
REGIMENT — OCCUPY  THE  FORTS — FIRST  BATTLE  OF  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH. 

To  the  uninitiated  the  movement  was  one  of  great  magni 
tude,  as  the  knapsacks  were  packed  and  horses  loaded  upon 
the  government  transport  that  was  to  convey  us  to  Amboy,  on 
our  way  South.  It  was  a  lovely  day,  and  as  we  sailed  down 
the  beautiful  bay,  covered  with  its  steamers  and  other  craft  of 
every  description,  soldiering  assumed  the  pleasing  garb  of  a 
picnic  excursion.  We  lost  sight,  for  the  time,  of  the  fact  that 
we  were  going  to  the  theatre  of  war,  and  indulged  only  in  the 
unalloyed  pleasure  of  sight-seeing.  At  Am  boy  we  were 
shipped  upon  the  cars  of  that  huge  monopoly,  the  Camdcn  & 
Amboy  Railroad,  and  were  soon  steaming  away  toward  the 
Capital.  We  arrived  at  Philadelphia  about  midnight  of  Jan 
uary  thirtieth.  Here  wre  met  the  first  act  of  hospitality,  which, 
during  the  war,  made  the  women  of  the  North  so  enviably  con 
spicuous.  No  sooner  had  the  Regiment  reached  the  wharf, 
than  we  were  met  by  an  escort  from  each  of  two  benevolent  as 
sociations,  which  conducted  the  Regiment  to  their  headquarters 
and  furnished  a  meal  to  which  the  supperless  regimental 
stomach  was  not  long  in  doing  justice.  Now  that  the 


40  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

war  is  ended,  and  we  come  to  understand  the  true  elements  of 
our  success,  we  must  give  woman  a  prominent  place  in  the 
ranks  of  those  who  saved  the  country.  She  has  not  herself 
gone  to  the  field  to  spread  death  and  destruction  over  the  land ; 
but  she  it  was  who  breathed  the  encouraging  word  in  the  ear 
of  the  patriot  that  she  loved,  awakening  within  him  the  pa 
triot's  ambition.  She  buckled  on  the  armor  with  more 
than  Spartan  fidelity.  She  fed  and  cheered  the  soldier 
onward,  giving  him  the  cup  of  cold  water  with  such  smiles  of 
encouragement  as  rendered  it  nectar  to  his  lips,  and  more 
strengthening  than  wine  to  his  heart.  She  it  was,  who,  in  the 
darkest  time,  while  the  tear  trickled  down  her  face,  wrote  those 
words  of  comfort  to  her  soldier  friend,  which  prompted  him  to 
deeds  of  nobler  daring,  and  when  the  call  came  for  those  things 
which  made  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  comfortable,  she  it 
was  who,  through  the  lonely  day  and  weary  night,  picked  the 
lint,  and  sewed  the  garments,  and  pickled  the  fruit.  We  can 
not  too  much  honor  her. 

Again,  after  breaking  down,  starting,  halting  and  starting 
again,  the  troops  were  on  their  way  to  Baltimore.  Here  we 
arrived  at  about  four  P.  M.,  January  thirty-first.  On  the 
nineteenth  of  April  before,  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  had  been 
assailed  by  a  mob  in  the  very  streets  through  which  we  were 
to  pass,  and  several  of  them  killed,  and  the  boys  considered 
themselves  pretty  brave  as  they  sang  on  nearing  the  city  :— 

"  We'll  march  straight  through  old  Baltimore." 
"  We'll  hang  Jeff.  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree,"  &c. 

But  a  radical  change  had  taken  place  in  Baltimore.  With 
martial  music  the  Regiment  marched  unarmed  through  the 
city,  welcomed  in  every  part  by  the  waving  of  flags  and  hand 
kerchiefs,  and  the  approving  smiles  of  the  loyal  of  both  sexes. 
To  1)0  sure,  now  and  then  a  rough  old  customer,  in  whom 
whisky  had  usurped  the  domain  of  loyalty,  frowned  and  in- 


ARRIVAL  AT  WASHINGTON.  41 

wardly  swore  at  the  Yankee  horde  that  had  usurped  the  reins 
of  the  Government,  so  long  controlled  by  secessionists  and 
traitors ;  but  the  feelings  of  the  masses  were  changed  for  the 
better.  Here  another  collation  was  served  up  for  the  Regi 
ment  by  the  citizens.  It  was  impromptu,  they  not  having 
had  any  notice  of  the  expected  arrival ;  but  it  nevertheless  did 
great  credit  to  the  loyal  citizens  of  Baltimore.  Here,  in  the 
midst  of  a  miscellaneous  crowd,  at  the  depot,  the  Chaplain 
of  the  Regiment  sang  the  favorite  song,  "  We'll  take  our  gun 
and  go,"  and  received  the  hearty  applause  of  the  crowd. 
Public  sentiment  had,  even  at  that  early  day,  began  to  im 
prove. 

Again  on  the  cars,  we  reached  Washington  about  midnight. 
The  men  were  soon  asleep  in  the  "  Soldier's  Retreat,"  lying 
about  promiscuously  upon  the  floor,  no  bedding  of  any  kind 
being  furnished,  except  the  soldier's  single  blanket.  The  offi 
cers,  and  the  wives  of  such  as  accompanied  them,  slept  upon 
the  floor  in  another  room.  The  next  morning  was  rainy  and 
dreary.  In  the  place  of  the  snow  and  ice  which  the  soldier 
had  left  at  the  North,  came  the  Washington  mud.  Snow,  water, 
clay  and  sand,  trodden  up  and  mixed  into  mortar  by  thousands 
of  loaded  army  wagons,  and  mules  and  cavalry  horses,  until 
the  road,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  was  one  belt  cff  liquid 
mortar. 

Washington  is  situated  on  the  Potomac  river,  where  two 
branches  meet.  On  the  north  it  is  surrounded  by  ranges  of 
hills,  rising  from  one  hundred  to  four  hundred  feet  above  the 
level  on  which  the  city  stands.  The  first  hill,  or  range  of  hills, 
is  called  Meridian  Hill,  being  the  national  point  from  which 
Americans  reckon  their  longitude.  Two  days  were  spent  by 
the  Regiment  at  the  "  Soldiers'  Retreat,"  when  we  were  or 
dered  into  camj)  on  Meridian  Hill.  The  tents  had  at  this  time 
never  been  opened ;  the  arms  were  in  the  boxes  as  delivered 


42  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  ]N.  Y.  V. 

to  us  at  New  York,  and  the  Eegiment  had,  as  yet,  no  ex 
perience  in  putting  up  tents  or  cooking  their  rations.  The 
mud  was  deep,  snow  had  fallen  and  was  still  falling;  the 
ground  was  covered  with  water  and  snow  intermingled,  and 
the  prospect  before  our  raw  recruits  was  anything  but  inviting. 
But  orders  in  the  army  are  peremptory,  and  not  to  be  post 
poned  on  account  of  the  weather.  The  Regiment,  therefore, 
on  the  fourth  day  of  February,  1862,  went  into  camp  on  Me 
ridian  Hill.  It  was  well  for  the  Regiment  that  veterans  did 
not  stand  by  to  enjoy  the  mistakes  on  that  occasion  of  our  first 
tent-pitching.  A  camp  laid  out  according  to  "  regulations  "  is 
a  somewhat  regular  arrangement.  This,  our  first  effort,  was 
to  be  laid  out  according  .to  regulations.  A  long  street  was 
therefore  marked  out  along  the  brow  of  the  hill,  which  was  to 
be  the  Broadway  of  the  camp.  From  this,  and  at  right  angles 
to  it,  ran  ten  streets  to  the  west,  on  each  side  of  which  were 
arranged  the  tents  of  the  respective  companies,  each  facing  the 
street.  Each  company  occupied  one  street,  and  were  allowed 
from  twenty  to  twenty-five  tents,  according  to  the  number  of 
men.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  main  street  were  ranged 
the  tents  of  the  field  and  staff  officers,  according  to  their  rank. 
Straw  could  not  be  procured,  wood  was  furnished  in  insuffi 
cient  quantities,  owing  to  the  blockade  of  the  Potomac,  and 
orders  were  given  that  no  trees  should  be  felled  by  the  soldiers. 
Inclined,  as  we  were,  to  obey  orders,  Yankee  ingenuity  was 
taxed  to  solve  the  problem  of  how  to  keep  warm  in  the  cold 
month  of  February,  without  wood;  and  if  wood  is  not  furnished, 
how  is  the  fire  to  be  kept  aglow  without  felling  the  trees  ;  and 
how  are  the  trees  to  be  felled  without  disobeying  orders  ?  "Ne 
cessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,"  somebody  said.  Down 
came  a  tree.  Every  limb  and  chip  was  precious.  Soldiers 
are  brotherly,  and  there  was  an  equal  distribution.  A  luckless 
chap  is  called  before  the  Colonel  for  disobedience  of  orders, 
and  the  following  colloquy  takes  place :— 


CAMP  TEIALB.  43 

Colonel. — Who  cut  that  tree  clown,  sir  ? 

Private. — I  did,  sir. 

Colonel. — Did  you  not  know  that  it  was  against  orders  to 
fell  these  trees  ? 

Private. — I  did,  sir. 

Colonel. — Then  why  did  you  fell  the  tree  2 

Private. — You  know,  Colonel,  that  last  night  the  wind 
blew  very  hard  from  the  northwest.  This  tree  stood  near 
your  horse's  shed.  I  went  out  to  see  to  your  horse  several 
times,  and  every  time  this  tree  creaked  as  though  it  was  com 
ing  down.  Your  horse,  sir,  reared,  and  I  resolved  that  if  I 
lived  till  morning  I  would  prevent  him  a  like  sleepless  night 
and  so  this  morning  I  felled  it,  sir.  I  trust,  sir,  I  have  vio 
lated  no  orders  in  saving  the  life  of  your  noble  horse. 

Colonel. — Your  intention  was  praiseworthy,  and,  after  all, 
intent  must  govern.  You  are  excused  this  time,  but  see  to  it 
that  you  cut  no  more  trees  unless  absolutely  necessary. 

The  Colonel  had  scarcely  finished  his  trial  of  the  first  of 
fender,  when  the  boys  were  seen  running  to  their  tents,  with 
arms  full  of  wood,  from  the  direction  of  the  cook-tent  of  com 
pany  A.  It  was  very  cold,  but  one  of  the  men  was  ordered 
to  put  his  wood  in  his  tent,  and  report  to  the  Colonel.  The 
investigation  failed  to  convict  him  of  felling  the  tree.  He 
found  it  down,  and  deemed  it  no  violation  of  orders  to  indulge 
in  the  luxury  of  a  fire.  After  a  long  investigation,  however, 
the  man  who  cut  the  tree  was  ascertained,  when  the  following 
facts  were  elicited : — The  tree  had  been  about  half  cut  down 
before  the  order  against  felling  trees  was  promulgated.  It 
had  all  night  threatened  to  fall  upon  the  cook-tent.  If  it  fell  it 
would  be  likely  to  fall  upon  a  whole  row  of  tents,  and  cause 
a  fearful  loss  of  life.  Its  beauty  and  very  life  were  already  de 
stroyed,  and  so  he  cut  it  down  to  save  life.  The  argument  in 
favor  of  human  life  was  certainly  stronger  than  that  in  favor 


44  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

of  the  one  who  had  saved  the  horse's  life,  and  so  the  Colonel 
being  confronted  by  a  staro  decisis,  as  the  lawyers  say,  dis 
charged  the  culprit  with  an  admonition  against  further  similar 
acts,  without  a  special  order  from  headquarters.  These  exam 
ples  illustrate  the  manner  in  which  Commodore  Porter's 
magnificent  oaks  kept  us  warm  for  the  first  week  of  our  camp 
life,  and  until  the  Government  began  to  supply  the  fuel. 

Sickness  now  appeared  in  camp,  in  the  form  of  typhoid 
pneumonia,  induced  by  our  camping  in  the  snow  and  mud, 
and  our  want  of  the  necessaries  to  keep  warm  and  dry.  The 
first  death  that  occurred  in  the  Regiment,  was  that  of  William 
B.  Potter,  a  private  in  company  A.  lie  died  at  Meridian  Hill, 
D.  0.,  February  nineteenth,  1862.  It  is  a  solemn  reality  to 
die,  even  among  friends.  The  solemnity  is  greatly  heightened 
by  the  absence  of  those  we  love  to  smooth  the  dying  pillow. 
With  sad  hearts  we  followed  his  body  to  the  depot,  and  he 
sleeps  now  in  his  native  town  (Taylor),  the  first  offering  of 
the  Seventy-sixth  at  the  bloody  shrine  of  this  unholy  rebellion. 

At  this  time,  General  McClellan  was  marshaling  his  hosts 
in  and  around  Washington,  with  a  view  to  attacking  the  rebels 
in  the  direction  of  Richmond,  as  soon  as  the  weather  might 
permit.  He  had  already  gathered  a  large  army,  and  the  hills 
and  valleys  about  Washington  were  literally  covered  with 
camps  for  miles  on  both  sides  of  the  Potomac.  Look  which 
way  you  might,  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  seen  to  float 
from  some  fort,  or  regimental,  brigade,  or  division  headquar 
ters,  while  the  bands  were  playing  almost  continually  in  every 
direction.  To  the  unfledged  warrior,  just  out  from  civil  life, 
these  scenes  were  very  inspiring,  and  conveyed  to  his  mind 
rather  the  idea  of  a  pleasure  excursion,  or  extensive  parade  of 
the  uniformed  militia  of  other  days,  than  a  serious  and 
extensive  preparation  for  actual  warfare,  and  scenes  of  blood 
shed  and  carnage,  of  which  this  grand  marshaling  was  the 
precursor. 


OPENING  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN.  45 

McClcllan  was,  at  this  time,  the  Commander-in-Chicf  of  all 
the  forces  of  the  United  States,  and  it  was  confidently  asserted 
that  when  he  should  move  upon  the  enemy,  no  force  which 
they  could  oppose  against  him  could  impede  his  progress  to 
the  rebel  Capital.  The  people  were  anxious  that  he  should 
move,  and  this  feeling  was  shared  in  by  the  soldiery  to  an 
almost  incredible  extent.  They  longed  to  inarch  against  the 
enemy,  and  the  days  wore  heavily  on,  while  they  lay  about 
the  Capital,  inactive.  Camp  life  is  ever  irksome  to  the  raw 
recruit.  There  is  a  sameness,  an  uninviting  routine  of  which 
he  tires,  and  he  actually  thirsts  for  new  excitements  and  new 
scenes,  and  deems  the  battle -field  preferable  to  the  monotony 
of  the  carnp.  Older  soldiers  change  their  views,  and  many 
of  the  Seventy-sixth  afterwards,  when  on  the  march,  the 
bivouac,  or  the  battle-field,  looked  back  upon  the  encampment 
about  Washington,  as  the  old  man  tottering  down  the  declivity 
of  life,  halts  for  a  moment  to  recall  the  pleasant  recollections 
of  the  sunshine  and  happiness  of  boyhood. 

Everything  was  now  put  in  readiness  for  the  forward  move 
ment  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  plan  of  General  McClellan  was,  to  attack  Hichmond  by 
way  of  the  Rappahannock.  About  the  middle  of  March,  the 
grand  movement  commenced.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach 
in  every  direction,  the  troops  came  pouring  from  every  hillside 
and  valley,  into  Washington,  and  as  we  gazed  southward  over 
Long  Bridge  and  Georgetown  Aqueduct,  as  far  as  our  vision 
extended,  could  be  seen  the  long  solid  ranks  of  infantry,  with 
their  bright  bayonets  and  polished  guns  gleaming  in  the  sun, 
and  as  we  looked  into  those  manly  faces,  we  observed  that 
unselfish  patriotism  and  stern,  unyielding  determination  which, 
properly  appreciated  and  directed,  would  have  made  this  army 
invincible. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  February,  the  Seventy-sixth, 


46  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

at  this  time  unbrigaded,  moved  from  Meridian  Hill,  to  occupy 
forts  De  Rnssey,  Massachusetts,  Tot-ten  and  Slemmer,  with 
headquarters  at  Fort  Tottcn. 

A  serious  difficulty  had  arisen  in  the  Regiment,  and  it  was 
considered  by  the  military  authorities  to  be  in  an  unfit 
condition  to  take  the  field.  The  officers,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  had  preferred  charges  against  Colonel  Green,  and 
those  charges  were  being  investigated  by  a  military  commission 
then  convened  in  Washington.  This  placed  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Shaul  in  command  of  the  Regiment.  After  a 
somewhat  protracted  hearing,  Colonel  Green  was  ordered  to 
"Washington,  and  thence  to  his  home  in  Cortland,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  afterwards,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
dismissed  from  the  service.  The  controversy  growing  out  of 
the  trial  of  Colonel  Green  for  a  time  nearly  paralyzed  the 
Regiment,  and  destroyed  its  usefulness.  Good  men  found 
themselves  differing  with  equally  good  men,  upon  the  merits 
and  demerits  of  the  prosecution,  and  skillful  tacticians  con 
fessed  that  the  only  way  to  harmonize  the  feeling  was  to  bring 
the  Regiment  into  action. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Regiment  were  now,  March  twen 
ty-fourth,  established  at  Brightwood,  at  Fort  Massachusetts, 
(since  changed  to  Fort  Stevens),  formerly  the  headquarters  of 
General  Keyes. 

General  McClellan  having  drawn  off  his  forces  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  a  very  small  force  was  left  about  Washington,  chiefly 
occupying  the  chain  of  forts  which,  at  a  distance  of  about  five 
miles,  entirely  surrounded  the  Capital. 

We  felt  the  loss  of  so  many  men,  and  it  seemed  almost  as 
quiet  about  Washington  as  in  our  northern  homes.  For  a 
time  the  men  found  employment  in  the  erection  and  repara 
tion  of  tents,  ornamenting  of  grounds,  and  those  other  little 
improvements  which  make  the  camp  homelike.  This  was 


THE  FIKST  BATTLE.  47 

interspersed  with  that  continuous  and  ever-present  drill,  which 
was  to  make  the  Regiment  what  it  afterwards  proved  to  he, 
one  of  the  most  effective  in  the  field. 

Whatever  may  he  the  experience  of  the  soldier,  though  he 
may  wade  through  blood,  and  bullets  be  showered  upon  him 
on  a  hundred  battle-fields,  he  still  looks  back  to  the  first  con 
test,  bloodless  though  it  be,  as  the  great  battle  of  his  soldier 
life.  The  first  charge  of  the  Seventy-sixth  was  a  bloodless 
one,  yet  summoning  the  courage,  and  planned  with  all  the 
skill  of  its  commander.  Headquarters  were  about  two  miles 
from  the  Maryland  line,  near  by  which,  and  just  in  the  State 
of  Maryland,  were  four  corners.  A  little  group  of  buildings- 
had  grown  up,  and  with  them  one  of  those  pests  of  any  com 
munity,  and  especially  detrimental  to  military  discipline — a 
whisky  shop.  During  the  quiet  period  following  the  exodus 
of  General  McClellan's  army,  several  of  the  men  had  in 
strolling  about  the  country,  found  this  pot-house,  and  the 
result  wras  an  extensive  replenishment  of  the  guard  house. 
Colonel  Shaul  believed  this  the  work  of  the  enemy.  Rumors 
circulated  that  we  were  to  be  attacked  from  the  direction  of 
Maryland.  No  one  could  tell  but  this  house  had  been  estab 
lished  with  a  double  purpose  ;  to  weaken  our  forces  and  from 
the  inebriated  soldiers  ascertain  our  actual  strength.  It  was 
even  reported  that  rockets  had  been  observed  in  that  direction, 
at  night,  answered  by  and  answering  rockets  in  other  directions, 
and  in  the  opinion  of  the  regimental  commander,  the  time 
had  come  to  "  strike  for  our  altars  and  our  fires,  God  and  our 
native  land."  The  cannon  in  the  forts  had  been  shotted,  and 
proper  sentinels  stationed  ;  but  this  was  only  a  preparation  for 
a  defensive  warfare.  Colonel  Shaul  determined  upon  taking 
the  offensive.  An  expedition  was,  therefore,  fitted  out  under 
the  immediate  command  of  the  Colonel.  It  consisted  of  a 
detachment  of  about  three  hundred  men,  well  "armed  and 


i 


48  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

equipped,  attended  by  the  regimental  drum  corps,  and  an 
army  wagon  drawn  by  four  horses,  and  intended  as  a  convey 
ance  to  camp  of  the  vanquished  foe.  It  was  a  clear,  pleasant 
April  day.  The  soft  southern  wind  fanned  the  heated  brows 
of  the  excited  braves,  as  they  rushed  forward  to  their  first 
charge  upon  the  enemy's  works.  The  time  ordinarily  given 
by  the  then  commanding  general  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
for  a  two  mile  march  had  not  elapsed,  ere  this  miniature  army 
had  formed  itself  into  a  hollow  square  about  the  obnoxious 
house.  Having  carefully  disposed  his  troops,  the  Colonel  dis 
mounted,  and,  with  his  aids,  demanded  admission.  This 
accomplished,  he  followed  it  with  a  demand  for  an  uncondi 
tional  surrender.  The  owner  in  vain  pleaded  his  loyalty  to  the 
Government,  the  number  of  his  family,  and  his  inability  to 
support  them  in  any  other  way.  The  Colonel  was  inexorable. 
It  was  hard,  he  admitted  ;  but  it  was  a  "  military  necessity," 
and  arguments  which  might  touch  his  heart  in  the  civil  walks, 
fell  powerless  when  judged  from  a  military  stand-point.  Noth 
ing  but  surrender  of  the  contraband  article  would  prevent  a 
resort  to  extreme  measures.  The  poor  Marylander  looked  out 
of  his  window,  then  his  door  ;  wherever  he  turned  his  eyes, 
on  every  side,  he  was  hemmed  in  by  double  ranks  of  the  "  boys 
in  blue,"  each  possessed  of  a  shining  piece  of  infantry  arms. 
There  was  no  escape  ;  resistance  would  be  worse  than  useless ; 
so  with  many  a  demurrer,  and  much  semi-loyal  argument 
against  confiscation,  the  owner  of  the  pot-house  surrendered. 
A  detail  of  men  conveyed  the  suspicious  casks  and  flasks  to 
the  army  wagon,  which  was  soon  on  its  triumphant  march 
back  to  Camp  Brightwood.  The  Colonel  marched  his  men 
back  in  rear  of  the  wagon,  with  feelings  akin  to  those  of  a 
certain  general  at  that  time  high  in  command,  who,  it  is  said, 
always  requested  the  band  to  play,  on  his  appearance  in  camp, 
"  See,  the  conquering  hero  comes."  It  may  not  be  amiss  to 


CAPTUEED  WHISKY.  49 

say,  that  the  Colonel  saw  that  the  suspicious  enemy  was  stored 
safely  in  the  cellar  of  his  boarding-house,  where  he  could  have 
a  personal  supervision  of  it,  and  a  perfect  personal  control  of 
this  destructive  agent.  It  was  soon  after,  however,  removed 
to  the  cellar  of  the  store  at  Brightwood,  and  undoubtedly 
finally  proved  a  large  if  not  valuable  accession  to  the  hospital 
stores  of  the  post. 

We  shall  have  occasion  hereafter  to  note  the  doings  of  this 
"  thing  of  evil,"  yet  the  "  whisky  invasion,"  as  it  was  face 
tiously  termed,  proved  a  most  salutary  movement  to  the 
Seventy-sixth.  The  men  accustomed  to  intoxication  saw  that 
the  regimental  commander  was  determined  to  prevent  it ;  the 
liquor-sellers  entertained  that  respect  for  him  which  they  ever 
do  for  those  who  do  them  full  justice,  and  the  guard-house 
soon  began  to  furnish  unmistakable  evidence  of  an  improved 
condition  of  the  temperance  cause  in  the  Regiment,  The  mis 
erable  pot-house  keeper  was  seen  on  divers  days,  hanging 
about  camp,  and  it  \vas  whispered  that  he  advocated  the  doc 
trine  of  payment  of  damages  caused  an  enemy.  The  records, 
however,  fail  to  show  that  he  convinced  Colonel  Shaul  of  the 
justice  of  his  claim. 


52  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

spection,  except  now  and  then  a  case  of  discipline,  or  one  of 
those  exciting  rumors  which,  with  or  without  foundation, 
always  find  currency  in  camp. 

Much  as  soldiers  become  endeared  to  each  other,  it  is  some 
times  really  a  relief  to  witness  a  case  of  discipline,  providing 
it  is  not  too  severe  in  its  nature.  Discipline  in  the  army  is 
generally  summary,  and  apparently  arbitrary.  No  trial,  (except 
for  more  heinous  offenses),  is  had  ;  but  the  commanding  officer 
punishes  "  on  view,"  as  the  parent  does  the  wayward  child. 
A  case  falling  under  my  observation  will  illustrate  :— 

"  Cal.  Totman,"  of  Company  E,  was  about  sixty-five  years 
of  age.  lie,  of  course,  appeared  but  forty-four  on  the  rolls. 
He  boasted  of  having  been  a  soldier  in  1812 ;  but  so  much 
time  had  elapsed  between  1812  and  1862,  that  Cal.  forgot 
to  some  extent  the  difference  in  position  between  a  private  and 
the  regimental  commander.  He  had  been  tutored  for  the  last 
fifty  years  under  those  free  institutions,  where  every  man  is 
equal  to  his  fellows,  especially  if  his  skin  is  white  and  his  hair 
straight,  and  he  had  forgotten  that  "  military  necessity  "  which, 
by  putting  shoulder  straps  upon  his  neighbor,  made  him  an 
autocrat,  while  he  (Cal.)  remained  a  plebeian. 

Alike  to  the  evil  customs  of  society,  and  to  Cal's  weak 
ness,  be  it  charged,  that  he  had  learned  to  imbibe  too  freely  of 
liquor,  and  when  well  charged  with  this  inspiration,  he  had 
not  the  fear  of  man  before  his  eyes.  He  was  neither  malicious 
nor  vindictive  on  these  occasions,  but  simply  free.  On  this  oc 
casion  Cal.  had  met  a  man  such  as  hang  about  camps,  who, 
for  a  dollar,  conveyed  the  precious  intelligence  to  him 
where  he  could  find  a  quart  of  whisky  under  the  roots  of  a 
stump.  The  whisky  was  found,  and  Cal.  was  not  long  in 
getting  happy.  But  a  quart  will  not  last  always,  and  he, 
therefore,  soon  found  it  necessary  to  replenish.  His  mind  nat 
urally  turned  to  a  sutler's  tent  about  twenty  rods  off'.  Thither 


DISCIPLINE  IN  THE  ARMY,  53 

he  turned  liis  steps,  making,  in  the  meantime,  a  path  imitating 
a  Virginia  rail  fence.  As  he  neared  the  coveted  spot,  he  met 
a  guard,  who  stood  in  the  way  more  effectually  than  the  lion 
in  the  path  of  Bunyan's  pilgrim.  To  pass  was  an  impossi 
bility.  Cal.  was  in  a  belligerent  state  of  mind  and  as  he 
turned  from  the  guard,  he  stopped  to  give  him  a  parting  salu 
tation.  Then  on  he  went  towards  camp,  halting  at  regular 
intervals  to  give  the  guard  a  reminder  of  the  great  injustice 
he  had  done  him,  and  continually  muttering  oaths  against 
those  who,  in  this  free  country,  would  rob  a  soldier  of  his 
God-given  right  to  get  drunk.  He  had  proceeded  but  a  short 
distance  towards  camp,  when  he  met  Colonel  Shaul,  who 
called  out : — 

"  What  are  you  saying,  sir  ?" 

Cal.,  a  little  mixed,  lifted  his  free  American  head  and 
replied  : — 

"  Who  in  h— 1  are  you  ?" 

"  Take  that  fellow  to  camp  and  place  him  on  a  barrel  for 
an  hour,"  shouted  the  Colonel  to  the  guard. 

Cal.  was  accordingly  treated  to  a  barrel  for  an  hour. 

This  punishment  may  not  be  understood  by  all.  It  is  a  very 
simple  process  of  chastisement.  A  barrel  is  placed  upon  one 
end,  and  the  criminal  is  required  to  stand  upon  the  other  end 
the  length  of  time  requisite  to  execute  the  sentence  or  order. 

Cal.  was  placed  upon  the  barrel,  and  there,  with  his  white 
locks  playing  in  the  breeze,  he  delivered,  in  the  presence  of 
about  two  hundred  soldiers,  an  oration  by  no  means  flattering 
to  the  Colonel,  ever  and  anon  descending  to  give  emphasis  to 
his  harangue  by  kicking  the  barrel  a  rod  or  more,  after  which 
he  would  mount  it  again  and  proceed  with  his  oration. 

Cal.  survived  the  war  and  draws  a  pension ;  but  he  has 
never  been  known  to  acknowledge  the  right  of  any  man  to 
place  a  soldier  of  1812  upon  a  barrel  for  an  hour,  because  he 


5i  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

disapproved  of  the  interference  of  the  guard  in  the  exercise  of 
his  natural  right  to  get  drunk. 

Another  case  of  punishment  came  near  resulting  in  an  ex 
plosion  of  Fort  Slocum.  Pat.  McKone,  of  Company  F,  aged 
about  fifty,  had  formed  the  same  habit  as  Cal.  He  was  an 
excellent  hostler,  but  could  not  go  to  the  city  to  get  the  Quar 
termaster's  horse  shod  without  returning  elated  with  unnatural 
spirits. 

"Who  are  you?"  said  the  officer  of  the  day,  as  Pat.  stag 
gered  toward  him. 

"  Ah  !  indade,  and  am  I  not  Misther  McKone?" 

"  But,  you  are  drunk !" 

"  Indade,  and  Captain  Barnard  tells  me  that  ivery  time  I 
sees  him  ;  but  he  has  searched  me  many  a  time  and  niver 
found  a  bottle." 

"  Guard,  put  this  man  in  the  bomb-proof.  I  will  see  what 
dungeon  life  will  do  for  him." 

Pat.  was  put  into  the  bomb-proof,  located  in  the  center  of 
the  works,  (there  being,  at  that  time,  no  guard-house  connected 
with  the  fort).  The  proof  had  just  been  well  replenished  with 
loaded  shells,  kegs  of  powder,  pails  of  loose  powder,  and  all 
the  other  varieties  of  the  combustible  materials  of  war.  All 
was  still  for  a  time.  Presently  the  guard  heard  a  sound  in 
the  proof. 

"  Murther !  Murther !"  shouted  Pat.,  and  then  came  a  sound 
as  of  some  one  falling.  The  door  was  opened,  and  there  lay  Pat. 
in  the  last  stages  of  suffocation.  On  coming  to  himself,  he 
explained  the  smoke  and  the  suffocation  thus  :— 

"  That's  a  very  damp  place,  Capt'in,  very.  Well,  I  thought 
the  Gover'mtnt  ought  to  warm  its  soldiers  at  public  expinse, 
arid  so  I  scraped  \vhat  I  could  togither,  and  built  me  a  little 
fire  on  the  floor,  and  soon  I  couldn't  brathe.  I  can't  tell  you 
any  more,  Capt'in." 


ORDERS  TO  MARCH.  55 

It  was  fortunate  that  this  lire  in  a  powder-house  was  discov 
ered  in  time. 

McClellan  had  now  (May,  1862),  crept  his  slow  way  up  the 
peninsula.  The  rebels  were  fleeing  before  him,  and  the  gene 
ral  impression  prevailed,  both  in  camp  and  about  Washington, 
that  the  Seventy-sixth  would  never  see  any  fighting.  It  was 
thought  that  McClellan  could  not  fail  to  take  Richmond,  and 
then,  by  common  consent,  the  war  was  to  close.  Though  the 
termination  of  the  war,  and  the  return  of  peace  was  desired 
"by  all,  yet  the  "  boys  "  were  not  a  little  chagrined  at  the 
thought  of  a  six  months'  campaign,  and  a  return  to  their 
friends  without  having  seen  the  enemy  ;  and  if  a  vote  had  at 
that  time  been  taken  in  the  Regiment,  upon  the  proposition 
of  going  into  battle,  or  returning  home  without  a  fight,  the 
battle  would  have  received  a  large  majority. 

Poor  fellows  !  They  afterwards  learned  to  judge  differently 
of  fighting.  Fighting  in  theory  scarcely  equals  the  reality  of 
war,  and  though  a  man  may  be  thoroughly  convinced  that  he 
would  like  to  try  his  hand  once,  he  is  seldom,  if  ever,  known 
to  try  it  the  second  time,  simply  for  the  sport  of  it. 

But  strategy  did  not  always  win  the  day,  even  for  McClellan. 
The  battles  at  Seven  Pines  and  Fair  Oaks  tested  the  general 
ship  of  the  Commander  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,  and  he  was 
found  wanting. 

In  the  midst  of  public  expectation,  when  the  capital  of  the 
rebellion  was  to  fall  a  prey  to  the  victorious  conqueror,  the 
exultant  hopes  of  the  loyal  North  were  blasted,  and  General 
McClellan  and  his  splendid  army  were  hurled  back  to  the 
James,  and  took  refuge  beneath  the  guns  of  our  men-of-war. 

The  policy  of  President  Lincoln  required  a  force  between 
Richmond  and  Washington  sufficiently  strong,  in  case  of  the 
defeat  of  McClellan,  to  protect  the  latter  city. 

The  orders  finally  came  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  May, 


5G  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

1862,  for  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  to  proceed  to  Frede- 
ricksburg.  The  men  were  all  elated  with  the  idea  of  a  change 
of  scenery;  anything  was  preferable,  they  thought,  to  the 
monotony  of  camp  life.  Knapsacks  were  quickly  filled,  tents 
struck  and  packed,  the  little  conveniences  for  camp  life  that 
had  been  gathered  together,  were  assorted,  and^those  packed 
which  were  to  be  taken,  and  the  balance  thrown  away ;  and 
when  the  morning  of  the  twenty-second  dawned,  it  found  the 
Seventy-sixth  in  line  ready  for  the  march.  The  day  was  very 
warm,  and  to  soldiers  unaccustomed  to  marching,  the  five 
miles  to  Washington  seemed  ten  before  it  was  accomplished, 
and  the  knapsacks  grew  to  be  very  heavy  burdens.  But,  tired 
as  we're  the  men,  they  never  forgot  those  principles  of  justice 
and  equal  rights  which  called  them  from  their  peaceful  homes 
to  engage  in  a  death-struggle  with  treason. 

However  much  this  war  has  been  misunderstood  by  some  of 
the  commanding  generals,  judging  from  the  kid-glove  style  in 
which  they  fought  it,  and  the  general  tone  of  their  orders  and 
speeches,  the  common  soldier  has  not  failed  to  come  to  a  cor 
rect  understanding  of  the  issues  involved.  Men  high  in 
position,  have  had  ambitions  to  gratify,  and  a  name  to  write 
in  living  letters  on  the  scroll  of  fame,  and  in  the  writing  have 
not  unfrequently  overlooked  the  cause  of  the  rebellion ;  but 
the  soldiery  left  home  and  all  that  was  dear,  not  for  fame,  not 
that  they  might  secure  a  name  as  tactician  or  strategist ;  but 
that  they  might  write,  though  in  humble  letters,  upon  their 
country's  escutcheon,  those  inspired  words,  "  All  men  are  free 
and,  before  the  law,  equals,"  and  to  the  credit  of  the  Ameri 
can  soldiers  be  it  said,  they  never  forgot  to  act  upon  that 
principle. 

While  encamped  at  Fort  Massachusetts,  the  Maryland  seces 
sionists  assisted  many  of  the  soldiers  to  desert,  by  the  aid  of 
money  and  citizen's  clothes,  and  those  who  remained  true  had 


PROTECTING  "  CONTRABANDS."  57 

few  scruples  against  helping  off  the  colored  servants  of  the 
traitors  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Regiment.  The  num 
ber  of  colored  attaches  became  greatly  augmented.  Being 
against  orders,  few,  however,  but  privates  and  non-commis 
sioned  officers  were  aware  of  the  number. 

One  day,  Stephen  Bennett,  a  little  private  about  sixteen 
years  of  age,  appeared  at  the  tent  of  Captain  Fox,  with  a  col 
ored  boy  about  his  own  age,  and  thus  introduced  him  in  his 
own  peculiar  dialect  :— 

"  Cap'n,  you  see,  I  have  invited  this  young  gentleman  down 
to  see  you,  and  I  want  to  have  you  look  'im  over.  Bill's  'is 
name.  I  told  Bill 't  I  could  n't  afford  to  keep  'in  any  longer, 
an'  I  reckoned  we  'd  better  come  down  'n'  see  the  Cap'n,  an' 
see  'f 'e  could  n't  stay  with  us.  I've  had  'im  some  time  (a  day 
or  two), — he's  a  good  feeder,  Cap'n — up  in  our  tent  I've  had 


Bill  stayed  as  the  Captain's  second  steward,  until  subse 
quently  turned  over  to  Lieutenant  Walcott.  He  went  with 
Company  B  to  Fredericksburg  and  Cedar  Mountain. 

At  this  time  slavery  had  been  abolished  in  the  District  of 
Columbia.  By  act  of  Congress,  the  famous,  or  infamous, 
"  Order  ISTo.  3,"  of  General  Halleck,  remanding  the  panting 
slaves  to  the  scourging  of  an  enraged  master,  had  been 
annulled,  yet  the  virus  of  slavery  not  unfrequently  broke  out, 
and  numerous  attempts  had  been  made  while  in  the  defenses 
of  Washington,  to  abduct  slaves  found  in  our  camps. 

Let  it  be  written,  that  coming  ages  may  read  it  and  blush 
for  an  institution  that  demanded  a  rebellion  to  sustain  it, — 
that,  after  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  our  Government  had 
progressed  a  whole  year,  the  abettors  of  the  institution,  and 
the  officers  elected  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  under  the  very 
eye  of  Congress,  sought  to  wrest  from  the  Union  Army  those 
who,  with  uplifted  hands,  implored  their  protection  !  and  that 


58  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  ~N.  Y.  V. 

at  a  time  when  those  same  fugitives  were  inarching  with  the 
army  to  the  scene  of  conflict  and  of  death ! 

John  Burch  and  Charles  Bnrch  were  two  African  slaves, 
who,  having  escaped  from  their  master  in  Maryland,  had  taken 
refuge  in  the  camp  of  the  Seventy-sixth.  When  the  Regi 
ment  left  the  forts  on  its  way  to  Frederieksbnrg,  these  men 
went  with  it,  lending  their  aid  wherever  needed,  in  carrying 
the  baggage  of  the  officers,  or  performing  any  other  duty  that 
might  be  imposed  upon  them.  They  were  black,  but  they 
loved  the  smell  of  that  air  of  freedom  which  gives  spirit  and 
hope  to  the  white  man. 

As  the  Regiment  came  down  Seventh  street  to  Pennsylvania 
Avenue,  in  Washington,  these  men  were  inarching  with  Com 
pany  D,  and  carrying  the  officers'  baggage,  when  an  attempt 
on  the  part  of  their  owner  (just  think  of  that,  American  citi 
zen,  man-owner),  was  made  to  arrest  them.  This  was  sternly 
resisted  by  the  men  of  Company  D.  A  policeman  of  the  city 
of  "Washington  lent  his  aid  to  the  attempt ;  but  no  sooner  had 
he  seized  one  of  them  by  the  collar,  than  Jay  Webster,  of  Com 
pany  D,  gave  the  order,  "  charge !"  The  whole  company 
immediately  obeyed,  but  before  the  bayonets  were  in  position 
for  the  charge,  the  officer  lay  upon  the  ground,  senseless  from 
the  effects  of  a  blow  from  the  butt  of  Jay  Webster's  gun. 

Jay  has  since  died  in  the  service,  but  his  glorified  spirit  will 
never  tire  of  contemplating  this  daring  assertion  of  the  doc 
trine  that  human  freedom  is  above  all  the  pomp  and  show  of 
power,  and  its  vindication  the  first  duty  of  every  patriotic  cit 
izen  of  the  Republic. 

A  strenuous  effort  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  semi-seces 
sion  officers  of  Washington,  to  arrest  those  who  took  part  in 
this  defense ;  but  to  the  credit  of  the  officers  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth,  and  of  their  gallant,  true-hearted  commander,  General 
Abner  Doubleday,  be  it  said,  no  arrests  were  made,  and  the 


LANDING  AT  AQUIA  CKEEK.  59 

would-be  slave-catching  officers  of  Washington  returned  to 
their  illy-performed  duties  with  a  clearer  appreciation  of 
Northern  character  than  when  they  first  met  the  Seventy- 
sixth.  This  daring  act  of  heroism  went  the  rounds  of  the 
papers,  and  found  its  way  into  the  London  press. 

At  length,  after  that  delay  which  always  attends  the  em 
barkation  of  a  regiment  of  troops,  with  baggage,  horses,  tents, 
&c.,  the  Seventy-sixth  was  on  its  way  down  the  Potomac, 
leaving  the  secure  and  safe  defenses  of  Washington  for  scenes 
of  battle  and  carnage.  The  day  had  been  exceedingly  warm, 
and  the  men,  unaccustomed  to  marching,  found  it  no  light 
task  to  walk  the  seven  miles  from  camp  to  the  landing,  and 
though  a  fewT  were  kept  awake  by  the  change  of  scene,  yet  by 
far  the  greater  part  were  asleep  soon  after  the  boat  left  the 
wharf. 

About  midnight  the  boat  reached  Aquia  Creek.  The 
sleeping  soldiers  were  awakened,  the  knapsack  strapped  upon 
the  back,  the  haversack,  gun  and  accoutrements  seized,  and 
soon  the  Regiment  was  formed  on  shore  and  marched  over  a 
sandy  road  a  distance  which  appeared  five  miles,  but  was,  in 
reality,  less  than  two,  to  an  adjacent  hill,  where  it  bivouacked 
for  the  remainder  of  the  night.  It  was  a  lovely,  balmy  night, 
though  there  was  no  moon,  and  sweet  sleep  soon  carried  the 
weary  soldier,  in  dreams,  to  those  much-loved  friends  at  home. 

This  was  our  first  entrance  upon  the  theater  of  war.  The 
Seventy-sixth  had  never  before  trod  upon  soil  that  had  been 
polluted  by  rebel  feet. 

Upon  awaking  in  the  morning,  the  men  were  surrounded 
on  every  side  by  evidences  that  rebels  had  once  occupied  the 
ground.  On  every  hand  were  deserted  rebel  fortifications, 
bomb-proofs,  rifle  pits  and  habitations.  Here  were  the  plat 
forms  upon  which  the  rebels  had  moved  their  heavy  artillery, 
in  blockading  the  Potomac,  which,  could  they  have  spoken, 


60  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

might  have  explained  why  we  were  so  long  deprived  of  wood 
on  Meridian  Hill.  There,  down  the  bank,  were  the  remains 
of  gun-carriages,  dismantled,  the  brand  "  U.  S."  showing  rebel 
thrift,  alias  theft ;  while  in  every  direction  the  deserted  camps 
and  roofless  tents  presented  a  more  dilapidated  and  home 
sick  appearance  than  did  the  "  deserted  village  "  of  Goldsmith. 

Climbing  high  up  the  cliff,  the  Potomac,  confined  in  its 
winding  course  by  high  green  bluffs,  dotted  here  and  there  with 
groves  of  young  trees,  this  morning,  (May  twenty-fourth),  pre 
sents  a  truly  magnificent  landscape.  There  are  few  better 
harbors  than  that  at  Aquia  Creek,  and  at  this  moment  it 
seems  dressed  in  its  holiday  garb.  The  river,  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach,  is  dotted  with  vessels  of  all  descriptions — the  steam 
er,  with  its  accompanying  barges,  the  government  transport, 
the  stately  ship  and  the  low,  frowning  gun-boat,  while  ever 
and  anon,  floating  on  the  sweet  morning  air,  comes  the  ever 
welcome  and  soul-stirring  strains  of  music  from  the  bands  and 
drum  corps.  The  weariness  of  yesterday  has  worn  off ;  na 
ture  is  refreshed,  and  now  is  no  time  for  gloomy  meditations. 
What  if  we  have  left  our  friends  behind  us  ?  What  if  this 
sunshine  precedes  a  storm,  and  the  battle's  fury  may  be  in  re 
serve  for  us  but  a  short  way  ahead  ?  The  God  who  made  this 
landscape,  and  fills  us  with  pleasurable  emotions  as  we 
contemplate  it ;  lie  who  gave  us  ears  to  hear,  and  an  appreci 
ative  nature  to  be  made  happy  by  these  strains  of  sweet  music, 
will  surely  protect  them  and  us.  Such  were  the  meditations 
after  breakfast  that  morning  ;  but  they  were  of  short  duration 
— all  too  short. 

Before  noon  the  order  to  "  fall  in  "  was  given,  and  soon  the 
Regiment  was  in  line  ready  for  marching.  Then  the  order 
to  "  break  ranks  "  was  given,  and  thus  the  Regiment  awaited 
the  arrival  of  several  men  who  had  been  left  behind,  but  who 
were  now  approaching,  on  board  a  vessel  which  brought  down 


MARCH  TO  FREDERICKSBURG.  til 

the  One  Hundred  and  Second  New  York.  Soon  all  was 
ready,  and  the  Regiment  took  up  its  line  of  march  to  Frede- 
ricksburg,  eighteen  miles  distant. 


CHAPTER  V. 

* 

MARCH  TO  FREDERICKSBURG — VIRGINIA  SHOWER — FORDING — ARRIVAL  AT  FREDERICKS- 
BURG— MOVEMENT  ON  FOOT— RUMORS— GENERAL  MCDOWELL— THE  LACY  HOUSE- 
ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  SECRETARY  STANTON  AMD  THE  GENERALS  IN  COUNCIL— CONCLU 
SION  OF  THE  COUNCIL— THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  TO  REMAIN  AT  FREDBRICKSBURG. 

THE  day,  like  its  predecessor,  was  extremely  hot,  and  there 
was  scarcely  a  dry  garment  in  the  Hegiment,  when,  at  length, 
the  order  was  given  to  bivouac  for  the  night. 

The  country  from  Aquia  Creek  to  Fredericksburg,  presented 
a  desolate  appearance.  All  along  the  railroad,  now  torn  up 
and  impassable,  were  to  be  seen  the  deserted  rebel  camping- 
grounds,  dismantled  fortifications,  dilapidated  rebel  huts  ;  and 
everything  bore  unmistakable  evidence  of  the  ravages  of  war. 
Scarcely  a  fence  was  to  be  seen  ;  the  country  was  thinly  pop 
ulated,  and  to  add  to  the  general  desolation,  the  stumps  of 
imperfectly  cleared  tracks  of  country,  gave  to  the  landscape 
an  uninviting  aspect.  Judging  from  the  appearance  of  the 
country  from  Aquia  Creek  to  Fredericksburg,  the  "  mother  of 
Presidents  "  will  require  some  time  to  arrange  her  toilet  be 
fore  she  will  again  become  presentable. 

The  first  night  of  this  march  the  Kegiment  encamped  in  an 
open  meadow,  about  six  miles  from  Aquia  Creek.  Scarcely 
had  they  retired  upon  their  blankets,  which  were  spread  upon 
the  ground,  before  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents,  and  the 


64  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

Regiment  came  to  a  full  appreciation  of  the  magnitude,  if  not 
the  beauty,  of  a  Virginia  shower. 

The  soldier  of  several  campaigns  comes  to  view  everything 
as  natural  and  endurable  that  may  befall  him  ;  but  the  soldier 
who  has  just  left  a  comfortable  camp  and  tent,  considers  such 
a  storm  as  an  unusual  catastrophe. 

The  night,  though  sleepless  to  the  unfledged  soldiery,  finally 
passed  away,  and  again  the  march  was  resumed. 

The  rain  had  raised  Potomac  Creek  almost  to  a  river.  The 
rebels  had  destroyed  the  bridge,  #nd  here  the  Regiment  ex 
perienced  that  other  unpleasant  feature,  the  fording  of  a 
turbulent  stream. 

This  done,  on  went  the  Regiment,  each  man's  load  growing 
heavier  as  his  body  became  more  wearied,  and  the  rain  more 
thoroughly  saturating  every  garment  upon  him,  until  about 
10  o'clock  P.  M.  Covered  with  mud,  wet  to  the  skin  and 
nearly  exhausted,  the  Brigade  arrived  in  sight  of  Fredericks- 
burg  and  encamped  for  the  night.  Only  about  four  tents 
were  provided  for  a  company,  and  when  we  consider  that  a 
small  tent  will  protect  but  about  four,  it  will  be  understood 
that  most  of  the  men  were  unprovided  for. 

The  best  of  feeling  usually  prevails  among  the  soldiers. 
They  are  cemented  together  by  their  common  dangers,  priva 
tions  and  experiences,  and  the  weary  and  sick  are  always  first 
provided  for.  On  this  occasion  the  exhausted  and  sick  would 
more  than  fill  the  tents,  so  that  the  healthy  found  themselves 
out  in  the  cold  and  rain. 

The  morning  of  the  twenty-sixth  was  ushered  in  by  the 
reveille,  not  of  a  regiment  alone,  but  of  regiments,  brigades, 
divisions  and  corps.  We  were  reminded  of  those  days  when 
we  first  entered  "Washington,  before  General  McClellan  had 
left  for  the  peninsula,  with  his  grand  army.  In  every  direc 
tion  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  nothing  was  to  be  seen  but 


OPPOSITE  FKEDERICKSBUKG.  65 

men  and  the  materials  of  war,  while  everywhere  the  indica 
tions  satisfied  the  unpracticed  eye  that  some  great  movement 
was  on  foot. 

Scarcely  had  the  roll  been  called  when  the  rumbling  of 
artillery  and  baggage  wagons  gave  rise  to  the  rumor  that  a 
forward  movement  was  being,  even  at  that  time,  made.  Then 
came  a  rumor,  such  as  always  finds  credence  in  camp,  that 
General  Shields's  division  had  been  ordered  back  to  Winches 
ter,  to  reinforce  General  Banks,  who  was  said  to  have  been 
driven  back  by  the  rebels.  Then  the  story  received  sanction 
that  the  rebels  had  recaptured  Manassas. 

But  little  time  was  given  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  rumors, 
for,  early  in  the  afternoon,  orders  were  received  to  march 
again,  and  take  a  position  near  the  site  of  the  camp  just  evac 
uated  by  a  regiment  of  General  Ord's  Brigade.  Unaccustomed 
to  the  experiences  of  actual  warfare,  the  soldiers  would  have 
much  preferred  to  march  across  the  river,  where  they  might 
be  in  closer  proximity  to  the  rebels. 

General  Shields's  men  had  been  six  months  or  more  in  the 
field,  and  were  looked  upon  by  the  young  soldiers  who  had 
never  smelled  powder,  with  as  much  respect  as  civilians  con 
template  the  browned  and  scarred  veteran  of  a  hundred 
battle-fields.  They  could  even  cook  their  rations  and  make 
palatable  coffee  without  the  aid  of  camp  stoves,  and  could 
cleanse  and  polish  their  warlike  weapons  while  cooking  over 
a  fire  between  two  logs,  seeming  perfectly  at  home. 

Everywhere  the  ground  was  covered  with  soldiers  and  ma 
terials  of  war.  Here,  long  rows  of  army  wagons,  forming  a 
regular  village  of  canvas  covers ;  there  a  park  of  artillery. 
Yonder  a  corral  of  army  horses,  and,  further  on,  of  mules, 
while  hurrying  to  and  fro  rode  the  orderlies,  carrying  dispatches. 
Everything  bespoke  business — business  of  a  serious  character. 

General  McDowell  was  in  command  of  the  forces  there 


66  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

assembled  and  assembling.  He  occupied  the  Lacy  house  as  his 
headquarters.  This  is  a  brick  building,  near  the  left  or 
northern  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  in  plain  view  of  Fred- 
ericksburg,  and  about  two  miles  from  Falmouth.  The 
grounds  surrounding  it,  which  had  been  tended  with  so  much 
care,  were  now  covered  with  the  tents  of  staff  officers  and 
orderlies  ;  the  fences  were  gone,  the  shrubbery  destroyed,  and 
the  whole  plain,  now  covered  with  troops,  was,  aside  from  the 
bustle  of  marshaling  hosts,  a  barren,  uninviting  waste.  Down 
the  walks,  which  the  proprietor  had  laid  out  with  so  much 
taste,  the  sentinel  now  paced,  with  his  gun  at  a  shoulder ; 
where  once  the  petted  daughter  admired  her  bright  flowers, 
the  "  contraband "  now  held  the  war  steed  of  the  hated 
Yankee  general  or  colonel ;  while  in  the  parlor  and  halls 
where  the  fashionable  "  F.  F.  V.'s  "  were  wont  to  congregate, 
perchance  to  sing  themselves  happy  over 

"The  bonnie  blue  flag  of  a  single  star," 

now  assembled  the  hero  generals  who  were  striking  a 
blow  at  that  very  flag,  and  the  infamous  institution 
which  sustained  this  scene  of  aristocracy,  and  pricking  the 
bubble  which,  broken  would  show  the  "  F.  F.  V.'s  "  to  be 
really  something  other  than  the  first  families  of  Virginia. 
And  there,  in  the  midst  of  this  group,  counseling  and  being 
counseled,  in  this  rebel  mansion,  was  the  hated  rail-splitter, 
Abraham  Lincoln,  whose  very  election  had  been  seized  upon 
as  a  pretense  for  secession. 

Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Stanton,  had 
arrived  upon  the  ground  about  the  same  time  with  the  Seven 
ty-sixth,  and  was  now  in  close  consultation  with  the  leading 
generals,  at  the  Lacy  house. 

It  is  generally  understood  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  never  satis 
fied  with  the  manner  in  which  General  McClellan  had  left 
Washington  unprotected  when  he  went  upon  the  peninsula. 


PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  IN  COUNCIL.  07 

Ho  had,  therefore,  ordered  General  McDowell  to  remain  with 
his  troops  to  defend  Washington  in  case  of  a  repulse  of  Gen 
eral  McClellan's  army ;  and  the  wisdom  of  this  course  has 
been  approved  by  the  events  which  have  already  passed  into 
history.  With  that  ever-watchful  eye  with  which  our  mar 
tyred  President  guarded  every  movement  of  the  army,  he  had 
now  come  to  the  front  to  see  with  his  own  eyes  that  all  was 
being  done  that  was  possible,  to  protect  the  Capital  and  save 
the  country. 

It  was  a  proud  sight  to  see  his  tall  form  surrounded  by  the 
best  generals  in  the  country,  receiving  and  giving  counsel  as 
to  the  future  movements  of  the  army.  While  there  was  a  de 
termined  look,  confidence  beamed  also  upon  every  countenance. 
Though  the  President  could  not  have  felt  otherwise  than  a 
foreboding  of  the  evil  that  was  about  to  fall  upon  the  country, 
yet  he  displayed  no  symptoms  of  distrust.  There  was  that 
same  calm,  assured  air  that  ever  marked  his  bearing,  and  he 
animated  rather  than  depressed  his  generals,  as  they  discussed 
the  weighty  subject  before  them,  and  occasionally  the  council 
was  enlivened  by  one  of  his  dry  jokes,  or  one  of  those  never- 
failing  "  that  reminds  me  of  a  story,"  with  which  he  was  wont 
to  preface  a  happy  illustration. 

Judging  from  the  external  appearance  of  that  council,  an 
inexperienced  observer  would  have  seen  nothing  tending 
to  induce  the  belief  that  those  very  men  who  seemed  to 
drink  in  the  counsels  of  each  other,  and  to  heartily  sympathize 
each  with  the  other  in  every  sentiment  expressed,  were 
inwardly  rankling  with  jealousies,  which,  in  three  short 
months,  would  permit  one  portion  of  the  army  to  be  cut  in 
pieces,  while  the  other  portion  was  within  supporting  distance, 
disengaged.  And  yet,  such  is  the  fallibility  of  human  nature, 
that  the  goddess  of  history  has  blushed  while  she  has  been 
forced  to  write  it  down  against  them.  More  than  to  any  other 


68  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

one  cause,  the  prolongation  of  this  war  was  due  to  the  jeal 
ousies,  rivalries  and  envies  of  the  commanding  generals. 
This,  with  that  other  idea  of  President-making  by  the  kid- 
glove  style  of  fighting,  may  be  set  down  as  the  reason  for  the 
rebellion  lasting  be}rond  the  limits  of  a  single  year.  The 
North  wras  strong  enough,  and  anxious  to  crush  it  in  six 
months,  but  its  strength  was  neutralized  by  being  divided 
against  itself. 

The  result  of  the  consultation  was,  that  General  Doubleday's 
Brigade  was  to  remain  at  Fredericksburg  to  guard  that  city, 
while  the  other  troops  wrent  on  to  win  laurels  in  a  more  active 
field. 

Though  it  may  seem  incredible  to  those  who  are  unaccus 
tomed  to  the  monotony  of  camp  life,  yet  it  is  true  that  the 
recruit  who  has  never  seen  battle,  but  has  spent  several  months 
in  camp,  considers  it  a  misfortune  to  be  thus  confined,  and,  if 
left  to  choice,  would  prefer  the  march  or  the  field  to  the  se 
clusion  of  camp  life.  This  feeling,  however,  is  changed  by 
one  active  campaign. 

The  officers  and  men  of  the  Seventy-sixth  were  disappointed 
when  notified  of  the  conclusion  of  the  council. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

FHEDERICKSBURG— CHANGING  CAMPS— A  RECONNOISSANCE  IN  FORCE— DIABOLISM  OF  THE 
REBELS— EXPLOSION  OF  A  MAGAZINE  IN  FREDERICKSBURG  BY  A  REBEL  TORPEDO- 
REBEL  SENTIMENTS— LAWYER  WALLACE— THE  WOMEN  OF  FREDERICKSBURG— SHUN 
NING  THE  FLAG— "  STONEWALL  "  JACKSON  EXPECTED— PREPARATIONS  FOR  His 
RECEPTION— MAJOR  LIVINGSTON  AS  GOVERNOR— CAPTURE  OF  MAJOR  LACY,  OF  THE 
LACY  HOUSE— SMUGGLING— REMARKABLE  CURES  OF  DROPSY. 

IT  is  no  small  matter  to  settle  a  family  in  a  strange  house, 
and  get  things  set  to  rights,  so  that  the  place  will  seem  like 
home.  The  shelf  where  the  clock  is  to  stand,  is  on  the  other 
side  of  the  room,  as  you  enter,  from  that  on  which  it  was 
accustomed  to  stand  ;  the  stove  does  not  look  familiar  where 
necessity  compels  us  to  locate  it ;  we  look  in  vain  for  the  mir 
ror  where  it  used  to  hang  by  the  clock,  and  so  on ;  but 
changing  quarters  in  civil  life  is  not  to  be  compared,  in  point 
of  vexation,  with  the  "  change  of  base  "  in  the  army.  This 
was  amply  illustrated  on  the  arrival  of  our  Regiment  opposite 
Fredericksburg. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  the  bivouac  the  first  night. 
The  next  morning  the  men  were  aroused  from  their  slumbers 
on  the  ground,  by  the  reveille.  Soon  the  roll  of  wheels  and 
the  bustle  in  camp  betrayed  a  movement.  Vague  rumors  of 
defeat  at  Winchester,  and  then  of  victory,  agitated  the  camp. 

Sunday,  May  twenty-fifth,  orders  were  received  to  march  to 
a  hill  about  a  mile  distant.  While  this  was  being  done  by 
the  Seventy-sixth,  a  reconnoissance  in  force  was  being  made 


70  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

on  the  south  side  of  the  Kappahannock,  with  a  view  to  ascer 
tain  the  position  and  strength  of  the  rebels.  Though  the 
Seventy-sixth  took  no  part  in  this  reconnoissance,  the  general 
commanding  the  Brigade,  and  Jiis  staff,  rode  to  the  front  and 
participated  in  it. 

These  reconnoissances  are  very  exciting,  requiring  all  the 
courage  necessary  in  battle,  and  adding  the  excitement  and 
interest  of  an  ordinary  hunting  excursion  in  an  extraordinary 
degree.  In  this  case  the  demonstration  was  made  upon  two 
roads  leading  from  Fredericksburg  nearly  south.  First  came 
the  Harris  cavalry,  filling  the  roads  with  gallant  troopers,  as 
they  galloped  forward  in  search  of  danger.  These  were  closely 
followed  by  the  infantry,  which  was  to  support  them  in  case 
of  a  collision. 

The  rebels  had  made  a  demonstration  upon  Fredericksburg 
but  a  short  time  before,  and  a  fight  was  expected  ;  but  the 
reconnoissance  only  established  the  fact  that  the  rebels  had 
placed  a  respectful  distance  between  themselves  and  the  Union 
army. 

This  reconnoissance  was  made  upon  the  day  on  which  prep 
arations  had  been  made  for  General  McDowell  to  leave 
Fredericksburg,  to  join  General  McClellan.  But  the  enemy 
were  not  followed  in  their  retreat  from  Fredericksburg,  for 
just  at  this  time  Stonewall  Jackson  commenced  his  expedi 
tion  down  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  General  McDowell 
was  sent,  in  connection  with  General  Fremont,  from  West 
Virginia,  to  the  assistance  of  General  Banks,  and  to  intercept 
Jackson  in  his  retreat.  This  departure  of  General  McDowell 
set  at  rest  all  idea  of  a  general  forward  movement  by  the 
troops  about  Fredericksburg. 

To  the  Brigade  of  General  Doubleday  was  assigned  the  duty 
of  guarding  and  repairing  the  railroad  from  Aquia  Creek  to 
Fredericksburg.  All  this  foreboded  a  repetition  of  camp  life 


EXPLOSION  OF  A  MAGAZINE.  71 

experiences,  without  the  excitements  of  the  inarch  and  the 
field. 

On  the  day  of  the  reconnoissance,  an  incident  occurred 
which  illustrates  the  ntter  recklessness  with  which  this  war 
was  carried  on  by  the  rebels.  They  had  but  recently  occupied 
Fredericksburg,  and  the  city  was  at  this  time  inhabited  by  an 
intensely  bitter  rebel  population.  Yet,  not  only  regardless 
of  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare,  but  disregarding  the  safety 
of  their  own  friends  and  property,  the  rebel  army,  on  leaving, 
planted  torpedoes  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  and  especially 
about  the  magazines  connected  with  the  fortifications. 

On  the  Sunday  spoken  of,  as  a  guard  from -the  Twenty- 
third  New  York  was  on  duty,  he  chanced  to  step  a  little  one 
side  from  his  accustomed  path,  when  his  foot  came  in  contact 
with  one  of  these  torpedoes.  In  an  instant  he  was  blown  into 
the  air,  and  his  body  torn  to  atoms.  The  fire  communicated 
with  the  magazine,  causing  a  most  terrific  explosion.  The 
earth  and  timbers  were  thrown  into  the  air  above  the  highest 
buildings,  and  the  shock,  as  of  an  earthquake,  was  felt  for 
miles  around. 

Had  this  been  done  in  an  enemy's  country,  it  might  have 
been  paliated,  though  not  justified,  as  a  war  measure ;  but 
when  we  come  to  realize  that  the  enemy  planted  these  mur 
derous  engines  in  their  own  city,  at  their  own  doors,  where 
their  families  and  friends  were  the  imperiled  parties,  we  can 
not  conceive  a  more  fiendish  act. 

After  marching,  halting  and  counter-marching  for  a  week, 
the  Brigade  finally  settled  down,  and  the  old  routine  of  camp 
life  followed. 

Brigade  headquarters  were  established  at  the  house  of  a  law 
yer  named  Wallace.  lie  was  a  most  bitter  secessionist.  With 
two  sons  in  the  rebel  army,  his  slaves  all  escaped  to  the  North, 
his  farm  completely  desolated,  stripped  of  everything  upon 


72  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

which  he  had  set  his  heart,  he  remained  true  to  the  cause  of 
secession.  He  was  one  of  those  men  who  could  not  play  a 
double  or  a  doubtful  part ;  but,  whether  surrounded  by  his 
friends  in  gray,  or  his  enemies  in  blue,  he  was  the  same  firm 
supporter  of  the  rebellion,  and  he  more  than  once  asserted  to 
the  staff  officers  who  occupied  his  mansion,  that  if  the  United 
States  Government  should  require  him  to  take  the  oath  of  al 
legiance,  on  pain  of  confiscation  of  all  his  property,  he  should 
choose  the  confiscation,  rather  than  violate  his  obligations  to 
his  State. 

No  better  illustration  is  needed  of  the  proposition  that  per 
sistency,  and  even  conscientiousness,  is  not  always  an  evidence 
of  right.  Here  was  a  man  who  had  spent  a  lifetime  in  sur 
rounding  himself  with  all  the  attractions  that  make  this  life 
desirable.  Under  his  personal  supervision,  his  ample  fields 
had  been  enclosed  with  fences  and  hedges ;  his  house  had  been 
neatly  and  tastefully  adorned  ;  his  yards  were  laid  out  with 
care,  and  planted  with  the  choicest  trees,  shrubs  and  plants  ; 
he  had  reared  his  two  sons  to  be  the  support  of  his  declining 
years ;  yet  now,  as  he  cast  his  eye  over  his  former  Eden,  he 
saw  his  broad  fields  one  vast  camping  ground,  not  of  friends, 
but  of  foes ;  his  trees  and  hedges  cut  down,  and  his  fences 
burned  by  what  he  deemed  a  horde  of  invaders ;  the  hated 
African,  the  cause  of  all  his  woes,  held  the  war  steeds  of  the 
officers  on  the  broad  walk  to  his  mansion ;  his  two  sons  were 
fighting  to  defeat  the  very  flag  that  now  floated  from  his  own 
house-top  ;  they  had  not  been  heard  from  for  several  months ; 
no  friends  surrounded  him  ;  the  Union  officers  were  occupying 
his  best  rooms,  and  their  subordinates  swarmed  on  every  hand. 
And  yet,  in  his  despair,  crushed  and  broken,  he  never  for  a 
moment  faltered  in  his  attachment  to  the  cause  he  had 
espoused. 

Nor  was  the  case  of  Wallace  a  solitary  instance.     Frede- 


THE  WOMEN  OF  FKEDEKICKSBUKG.  73 

ricksburg  was  one  hot-bed  of  secession.  The  women,  as  they 
passed  the  "  boys  in  blue,"  drew  their  dresses  closer  about 
them,  and  not  unfrecjuently  left  the  sidewalk,  lest  perchance 
they  might  be  contaminated  by  a  touch  of  the  garments  of 
their  enemies.  Did  a  flag  wave  from  headquarters,  fort,  guard 
house,  or  sutler's  tent,  the  "  chivalry  "  would  cross  the  street 
to  avoid  the  shadow  of  the  banner  of  the  invaders,  and  in  all 
manner  of  ways,  which  coiild  not  and  were  not  intended  on 
the  part  of  the  secessionists  to  be  mistaken  by  the  Union  men, 
did  the  inhabitants  of  this  city  show  their  disrespect  and  utter 
abhorrence  of  everything  that  favored  the  United  States. 
This  feeling  was  confined  to  no  particular  class,  (if  we  except 
the  colored  race),  but  was  shared  by  the  merchant,  mechanic, 
professional  man,  and  reached  the  climax  in  the  female  popu 
lation,  who  were  frequently  more  forcible  than  elegant  in  their 
expressions  regarding  the  hated  "  Yankees." 

Captain  Pierce  had  been  lamed  while  working  upon  the 
bridge.  Shortly  afterwards  while  walking  along  the  street 
with  a  brother  officer,  they  discovered  a  group  of  women  in  a 
parlor. 

"  There  come  two  damned  Yankee  officers,  and  one  of  them 
is  limping,"  remarked  one  of  the  "  F.  F.  Y.'s,"  in  tones 
intended  for  the  officers'  ears. 

"  It  is  a  pity  he  is  permitted  the  luxury  of  limping,"  re 
plied  one  of  the  bevy. 

"  Oh,  dear !  I  wish  Stonewall  Jackson  would  come  and 
clear  these  scoundrels  out,"  chimed  in  a  third. 

By  this  time  the  officers  were  opposite  the  window. 

"  Ladies"  remarked  the  Captain,  rather  sarcastically,  "  we 
heard  your  exclamations.  You  were  right  about  our  being 
Yankee  officers ;  but  the  Yankees*  have  come  to  stay,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  your  acquaintance  with  them  will  improve 
both  your  morals  and  your  manners." 


74  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  Y. 

The  officers  passed  on,  and  "  Southern  aristocracy  "  discussed 
"  Northern  mud-sills." 

At  this  time  General  Doubleday's  Brigade  had  not  been 
attached  to  any  division,  but  remained  a  separate  organiza 
tion. 

For  two  weeks  after  the  arrival  at  Fredericksburg,  nothing 
occurred  to  disturb  the  routine  of  marching  and  changing  po 
sitions,  with  now  and  then  a  little  drill. 

Frequent  and  very  exaggerated  stories  were  circulated  in 
reference  to  the  whereabouts  and  intentions  of  Stonewall 
Jackson.  Scarcely  a  day  passed  but  some  "  loyal  refugee,"  or 
"intelligent  contraband,"  came  to  camp  direct  from  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Jackson's  army,  with  the  startling  intelligence 
that  Fredericksburg  was  sure  to  be  attacked  in  force.  These 
announcements  were  usually  followed  by  orders  to  be  ready  to 
move  at  an  hour's,  and  sometimes  a  moment's  notice.  Knap 
sacks  were  packed,  haversacks  stored  with  rations,  arms  put  in 
readiness  for  a  fight,  but  no  enemy  came ;  until  finally  the 
army  of  "Igyal  refugees  "  and  "  intelligent  contrabands,"  who 
had  brought  the  intelligence  of  our  danger,  nearly  equaled 
the  imaginary  army  of  the  threatening  Jackson. 

These  rumors  were  at  first  very  exciting  ;  but  when  a  month 
or  more  had  elapsed,  and  no  Jackson  made  his  appearance, 
they  were  made  the  occasions  of  jests,  and  Jackson  became  to 
the  Union  army  a  sort  of  mythical  or  harmless  ghost,  with 
no  power,  nor,  indeed,  any  intention,  to  inflict  evil  upon  us. 

After  remaining  on  the  toorth  bank  of  the  Rappahannock 
about  a  \veek,  the  Seventy-sixth  was  sent  over  the  river  to 
guard  the  city,  the  depot,  the  bridge,  and  other  important 
points. 

Major  Livingston  was  made  Military  Governor,  and  no  one 
familiar  with  his  characteristics,  will  question  the  propriety  of 
the  selection.  To  the  best  order  of  executive  ability,  Major 


CAPTUKE  OF  MAJOR  LACY.  75 

Livingston  added  a  large  and  varied  experience  with  men, 
with  something  of  a  military  education.  In  the  city  of  Fred- 
ericksburg,  these  qualities  were  put  to  the  severest  test.  If  a 
horse  disappeared  mysteriously  from  its  owner's  possession,  the 
Major  wras  supposed  to  be  able,  not  only  to  determine  its 
whereabouts,  but  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  taking.  For 
the  time  being,  he  was  the  supreme  dictator.  His  word  was 
the  essence  of  the  law,  and  never  was  law  more  effectually 
administered.  The  rebels  themselves  were  compelled  to  admit 
that  their  city  was  better  governed  under  the  administration 
of  the  Major,  than  while  occupied  by  their  own  troops.  The 
liquor-sellers  were  greatly  restrained ;  the  soldiers  were  em 
ployed  in  building  bridges,  repairing  roads  and  fortifications  ; 
the  streets  were  policed,  and  lounging  and  the  necessary  con 
comitants — street  brawls  and  riots — were  prevented,  and  the 
citizens  of  this  rebel  city  had  many  occasions  to  thank  the 
Military  Governor  for  the  peace  and  quiet  which  reigned,  and 
the  protection  which,  in  person  and  property,  they  enjoyed-. 

The  first  day  after  the  installation  of  the  Major  as  Governor, 
an  important  capture  was  made — one  that  filled  the  city  with 
excitement.  Major  Lacy,  the  owner  of  the  Lacy  house,  situ 
ated  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  and  opposite  Fredericksburg, 
had  ventured  too  near  the  Federal  lines,  and  had  been  cap 
tured. 

A  squad  of  about  forty  men,  under  a  lieutenant,  was  sent 
out  to  reconnoiter  the  country,  and  ascertain  whether  there 
were  rebels  in  the  vicinity.  Observing  a  smoke  a  short  dis 
tance  ahead,  the  Lieutenant  called  for  volunteers  to  act  as  an 
advance,  and  learn  the  cause.  D.  C.  McGregor,  of  Company 
F,  Seventy-sixth  Hegiment,  and  six  others  of  the  party  volun 
teered.  Stealing  up  cautiously  to  near  the  place  whence  came 
the  smoke,  they  discovered  a  fine  horse,  saddled  and  hitched 
to  a  tree,  and  farther  on  a  camp  fire,  and  the  rebel  Major  and 


70  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

two  men  evidently  cooking  their  coffee.  The  scouts  managed 
to  get  between  the  Major  and  his  horse,  when  they  no  longer 
attempted  to  conceal  their  movements.  Discovering  our  party, 
the  Major  arose,  and  with  great  assurance  of  manner,  ex 
claimed  : — 

"  You  are  my  prisoners  !" 

'<  I  guess  not.     You  surrender  !"  replied  the  leader. 

"  Come  on,  boys !  Take  these  men  into  your  charge  !" 
shouted  the  Major  to  his  two  men. 

The  men  not  readily  obeying,  the  Major  sprang  for  his 
horse  ;  but  the  boys  in  blue  presented  the  ugly  ends  of  their 
Enfield  rifles,  and  the  Major  surrendered  unconditionally,  and 
was  taken  to  camp.  McGregor  was  soon  after  promoted  to 
sergeant. 

Major  Lacy  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  popular 
men  in  the  county.  A  man  who  had  spared  no  effort  to  bring 
about  the  secession  of  his  State,  and  now  that  it  had  seceded, 
he  avoided  no  responsibility  or  danger,  but  threw  himself 
heartily  into  the  work  of  aiding  the  military  forces  by  his  per 
sonal  presence  and  labors.  He  was  a  man  of  ability  and 
character,  and  felt  most  keenly  the  tortures  of  that  fate  which 
confined  him  a  common  prisoner  in  the  guard-house  of  the 
enemy  in  sight  of  his  own  mansion.  "  Alas  !  how  are  the 
mighty  fallen !" 

What  severer  punishment  could  be  inflicted  upon  a  sensitive 
man  ?  It  was,  however,  of  short  duration,  for  in  a  few  days 
he  was  sent  North,  and  in  due  time  exchanged. 

Those  familiar  with  the  devices  of  smugglers  on  our  north 
ern  frontier,  will  understand  some  of  the  difficulties 
experienced  by  our  gallant  Major.  Every  day,  and  several 
times  in  the  day,  cases  of  a  suspicious  character  came  under 
his  observation,  or  before  him,  as  Governor,  for  his  adjudica 
tion.  Did  a  female  set  out  on  a  journey  over  the  lines,  the 


SMUGGLING   DETECTED.  77 

size  of  her  trunk  could  not  fail  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
guards,  who,  ignorant  of  the  wants  of  "  F.  F.  V.'s,"  would 
frequently  indulge  in  suspicions  that  led  to  the  opening  of  the 
package.  The  obtrusive  guard  would  convey  the  trunk  to  the 
Governor,  and  direct  the  suspected  female  to  convey  herself 
thither,  when  a  trial  something  like  the  following  would  take 
place  :— 

Governor. — Madam,  what  is  your  name,  and  where  do  you 
reside  ? 

Female. — My  name  is and  I  live  in  Fredericksburg, 

sir. 

Governor. — Is  that  your  trunk  ?  (pointing  to  the  package 
mentioned). 

Female. — It  is,  sir. 

Governor. — Where  were  you  going  ? 

Female. — I  have  a  pass  to  Richmond,  sir. 

Governor. — What  does  your  trunk  contain  ? 

Female. — Articles  of  clothing,  sir. 

Governor. — The  size  of  the  trunk,  madam,  indicates  that 
the  contents  cannot  be  all  clothing.  It  is  my  duty  to  have 
them  examined. 

Female. — (Indignant).  What !  search  my  trunk  ?  Would 
you  be  so  vulgar,  sir,  as  to  pry  into  the  private  wardrobe  of 
a  lady  ?  I  assure  you,  sir,  that  that  trunk  contains  nothing 
but  my  clothing,  and  I  protest  against  its  being  disturbed. 

Governor. — My  duty,  madam,  demands  that  this  matter  be 
investigated.  Have  you  the  key  ? 

Female. — (Excitedly  rummaging  her  pocket).  I  have  lost 
my  key,  sir.  I  implore  you  not  to  disturb  my  wardrobe ! 

Governor. — Guards,  open  that  trunk"  with  as  little  damage 
as  possible. 

Female. — Oh,  Governor,  I've  found  the  key ;  but  I  conjure 
you,  by  your  respect  for  my  sex,  do  not  permit  a  public  exam 
ination  of  my  traveling  wardrobe  ! 


78  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

Governor. — Guards,  do  your  duty. 

Then  came  the  opening  of  the  trunk.  Of  course  the  ward 
robe  was  the  first  thing  that  met  the  eye ;  but  as,  to  the 
astonishment  and  contempt  of  the  fair  owners,  these  "  vulgar 
soldiers  "  proceeded  to  remove  the  clothing,  huge  packages 
and  large  bottles  were  discovered,  while  the  odor  of  the  apoth 
ecary's  shop  confirmed  the  idea  that  something  was  enclosed 
beside  those  articles,  the  safe  transportation  of  which  is  guar 
anteed  by  the  ordinary  contract  of  the  common  carrier. 
Whisky,  quinine,  liniment,  rolls  of  lint,  packages  of  bandages, 
etc., — these  were  the  chief  articles,  varied  in  the  proportions, 
but  invariable  as  to  the  specific  articles. 

Governor. — (Sarcastically).  Madam,  do  the  contents  of 
those  packages  and  bottles  constitute  a  portion  of  your  ward 
robe  ? 

Female. — But,  sir,  may  not  a  lady  prepare  herself  against 
those  diseases  incident  to  a  change  of  climate  ? 

Governor. — If  eighty  miles'  travel  brings  you  into  such  a 
malarious  climate,  I  advise  you  not  to  leave  Fredericksburg. 
Your  pass  will,  however,  be  so  amended  as  to  permit  you  to 
pass  through  the  lines  without  baggage.  Guards,  convey 
those  hospital  stores  to  the  chief  surgeon  for  the  use  of  the 
sick  Union  soldiers.  Here,  madam,  is  your  pass,  corrected. 

And  so  the  female  left  the  Governor,  sadly  reflecting  that  all 
her  efforts  to  assist  the  rebel  army  had  proved  abortive, 
and  forming  new  plans  to  forward  her  favorite  project. 

A  more  ingenious  method  of  smuggling  was,  however,  car 
ried  on,  until  vigorous  measures  were  adopted  to  prevent  it. 
Females,  young  and  old,  who  were  naturally  tall  and  slender, 
when  seen  upon  the  streets  of  Fredericksburg,  were  observed 
to  become  suddenly  corpulent.  This  transformation  frequently 
occurred  in  a  single  night,  and  was  finally  brought  to  the  at 
tention  of  the  Governor.  Without  female  assistance,  the 


REPORT  OF  "CONTRABAND"    COMMITTEE.  79 

investigation  would  be  very  painful  to  a  sensitive  gentleman, 
like  the  gallant  Governor.  Yankee  ingenuity,  however,  soon 
suggested  that  a  committee  of  female  contrabands  might  be 
trusted  to  investigate  and  report  as  to  the  cause  of  the  unnat 
ural  metamorphosis.  The  examination  made,  the  report, 
though  informal,  was  nevertheless  to  the  point,  and  clearly 
demonstrated  the  secretive  capacity  of  the  "  double  elliptic 
steel  spring  skirt." 

"  Lor',  massa  Gov'ner,  we'se  found  dese  articles  all  under  de 
skirt  ob  dis  woman,"  reported  the  committee  as  they  presented 
the  governor  with  an  armful  of  "  goods,  wares  and  merchan 
dise!" 

Not  unfrequently  were  whole  pieces  of  cloth  proper  for 
soldiers'  clothes,  sheets  for  bandages,  packages  of  lint  and 
medicine,  and  even  the  indispensable  bottles  of  quinine 
whisky  included  in  the  inventory.  These  took  the  direction 
of  the  other  "  medical  stores,"  and  the  thin  female  reduced  to 
her  normal  condition,  cured  of  her  dropsy  without  medicine, 
returned  to  her  home,  or  went  over  the  lines,  to  relate  to  her 
secession  friends  the  ungallant  conduct  of  the  Governor  in  so 
suddenly  depriving  her  of  all  her  greatness. 

The  darkey  population  were  not  long  in  fully  appreciating 
these  cases,  and  many  a  joke  arose  among  them  based  on  these 
investigations. 

"Missus  's  gwine  to  die !" 

'"What  for  you  tink  so?" 

"  Oh  !  Lor',  she's  swellin  up — she's  got  de  dropsy,  shure !  " 

"You  go  long,  now.  I  know  a  doc'r  '11  cure  her  in  no 
time." 

"Who's  dat?" 

"  Why,  de  Gov'ner.     Yah  !  yah  !  yah  !  " 

At  a  later  period,  during  the  war,  this  system  of  imparting 
assistance  to  the  rebels,  became  greatly  extended,  and  although 


80  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

the  strictest  surve^lance  was  exercised,  on  the  part  of  our 
Government  officials  to  prevent  it,  large  quantities  of  medical 
stores,  the  scarcity  of  which  made  them  worth  their  weight  in 
gold,  in  the  rebellious  States,  surrounded,  as  they  were,  by  a 
cordon  of  argus-eyed  detectives,  were  very  ingeniously 
smuggled  through  the  lines,  into  the  possession  of  the  enemy. 
And,  though  we  write  it  with  shame,  the  chief  headquarters 
of  these  double- traitors  wras  in  the  city  of  "Washington,  where 
many,  filling  important  positions  of  trust  with  apparent  hon 
esty,  were  secretly  engaged  in  affording  "  aid  and  comfort  to 
the  enemy."  The  most  successful  agents  of  these  traitor-serv 
ing  smugglers  were  females,  and  numberless  instances  might 
be  cited  where  more  ingenious  methods  and  devices  were 
adopted  for  accomplishing  their  objects,  than  those  given  above. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

GENERAL  MCCALL  LEAVES  FREDERICKSBURG— GENERAL  POPE  TAKES  COMMAND  OP  THE 
ARMY  or  VIRGINIA— NUMBER  OF  TROOPS  IN  THAT  ARMY— MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  TROOPS 
— DOUBLEDAY'S  BRIGADE  ASSIGNED  TO  KING'S  DIVISION— ANOTHER  WALLACE—"  JOE," 
THE  CONTRABAND— FORAGING  ON  THE  ENEMY—"  SLOW  NOTE," 

June  tenth,  General  McCall's  Division  left  Fredericksburg 
to  reinforce  General  McClellan  on  the  peninsula,  and  General 
Doubleday's  Brigade  was  left  alone  at  Fredericksburg. 

June  twTenty-sixth,  General  Pope  took  command  of  the 
Army  of  Virginia,  by  a  special  order  from  President  Lincoln. 
His  command  included  the  First  Corps  under  Major-General 
Fremont,  about  eleven  thousand  five  hundred  strong ;  the 
Second  Corps,  under  Major-General  Banks,  reported  at  four 
teen  thousand  five  hundred,  but  really  only  about  eight 
thousand ;  the  Third  Corps  under  Major-General  McDowell, 
eighteen  thousand  five  hundred;  with  a  small  unorganized 
force  under  Brigadier-General  Sturgis,  near  Alexandria,  then 
in  process  of  being  organized  for  field  service.  The  forces  in 
the  entrenchments  around  Washington  were  also  included  in 
his  command  ;  but  all  the  disposable  available  forces  for  active 
operations,  consisted  of  the  three  Corps  named,  amounting  to 
thirty-eight  thousand  men.  Doubleday's  Brigade  was  in 
cluded  in  McDowell's  Corps. 

General  Fremont  was  afterwards  relieved  by  General  Siegel, 
in  the  command  of  his  Corps. 


82  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

At  this  time  the  Corps  of  General  Banks  and  General  Fre 
mont  were  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  between  Winchester 
and  Middletown.  One  division  of  McDowell's  Corps  was  at 
Manassas  Junction,  with  its  advance  thrown  forward  to  Cat- 
lett's  Station. 

Jackson  had  retired  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley  with  his 
forces,  and  was  rapidly  marching  towards  Richmond,  so  that 
there  was  no  force  of  the  enemy,  of  any  amount,  within  a 
week's  march  of  any  portion  of  the  Army  of  Virginia.  The 
President  had  directed  General  Pope  to  cover  Washington  so 
that  in  case  of  a  disaster  to  McClellan,  the  Capital  should  be 
protected. 

The  first  effort  of  General  Pope  was  to  concentrate  all  the 
movable  forces  under  his  command,  and  while  he  covered 
Washington,  so  to  operate  upon  the  enemy's  lines  of  commu 
nication  in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville  and  Charlottesville, 
as  to  draw  off,  if  possible,  a  considerable  force  of  his  troops 
from  Richmond,  and  thus  relieve  the  operations  of  General 
McClellan  against  that  city. 

Orders  were,  therefore,  sent  to  General  Siegel,  who  had  now 
relieved  Fremont  in  the  command  of  the  First  Corps,  to  move 
forward,  cross  the  Shenandoah  at  Front  Royal,  and,  pur 
suing  the  west  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  passing  through 
Luray  Gap,  to  take  post  at  Sperryville.  General  Banks  was, 
at  the  same  time,  directed  to  cross  the  Shenandoah  at  the 
same  place,  and  take  a  position  between  six  and  ten  miles  east 
of  Sperryville.  General  McDowell  was  ordered  to  move 
Rickett's  Division  of  his  Corps  from  Manassas  Junction  to 
Waterloo  Bridge,  the  point  where  the  turnpike  from  Warren- 
ton  to  Sperryville  crosses  the  Upper  Rappahannock. 

At  this  time,  General  Doubleday's  Brigade  had  been 
assigned  to  General  King's  Division,  and  it  was  thought  best 
by  the  War  Department,  that  this  Division  should  be  left  at 


GENERAL  POPE'S  IDEA  OF  WAR.  83 

Fredericksburg  to  cover  the  crossing  of  the  Rappahannock  at 

that  point,  and  to  protect  the  railroad  to  Aquia  Creek,  and 
the  public  buildings  which  the  Government  had  erected  at 
that  place.  This  latter  arrangement  of  dividing  General 
McDowell's  Corps,  separating  King's  Division  so  far  from  the 
main  army,  arid  thus  making  it  possible  for  the  enemy  at  any 
time  to  cut  it  off,  by  interposing  between  it  and  the  remainder 
of  the  army,  gave  General  Pope  serious  uneasiness,  and 
en^a^ed  his  earnest  attention. 

CD     O 

General  Pope  was  very  unlike  many  who  have  been  high  in 
command  in  the  Union  army.  He  had  an  idea,  not  always 
possessed  in  the  army,  that  war  means  fight,  and  that  the  best 
time  to  parley  with  the  enemy  and  try  to  WTOO  him  back,  is  after 
you  have  whipped  him,  and  he  has  begun  to  implore  rather 
than  exact  terms.  He  had  another  idea  well  received  by  the 
loyal  masses  at  the  North,  but  not  at  all  favorably  received  by 
the  bulk  of  commanding  generals  of  that  time,  and  most  vio 
lently  opposed  by  secessionists  both  North  and  South.  He 
thought  that  the  Union  army  might  very  properly  forage  and 
subsist  on  the  enemy's  country.  An  order  was  finally  issued 
by  him  to  that  effect,  which,  though  it  created  a  howl  among 
the  enemy,  brought  blessings  upon  him  from  the  Union  army. 
This  is  not  the  only  time  that  a  howl  by  the  rebels  was  an 
swered  by  a  shout  from  the  "  boys  in  blue,"  and  an  instance 
might  be  cited  where  the  Union  army  regretted  an  occurrence 
at  the  North,  which  sent  up  a  shout  all  along  the  rebel  lines. 
But  the  people  of  the  North  silenced  that  shout  at  the  ballot- 
box. 

Several  incidents  occurred  in  the  Seventy-sixth  to  illustrate 
the-  benefits  of  this  order  to  subsist  on  the  enemy.  We  give 
one : — 

The  Wallace  mentioned  in  a  preceding  chapter,  had  a  brother 
about  fifteen  miles  below  Fredericksburg,  on  the  Rappahan- 


84  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

nock.  lie  was  a  rich  farmer,  and,  though  a  gentleman  in 
appearance,  like  his  brother,  he  was  a  most  violent  and  un- 
compromising  secessionist.  "  Joe,"  an  intelligent  contraband, 
who  had  "  served  massa  dese  forty  long  years,"  used  to  bring 
vegetables  and  provisions  to  Fredericksburg  for  sale.  Like  all 
his  race,  he  was  loyal  to  "  Massa  Lincum's  guv'ment,"  and  the 
intelligence  was  conveyed  by  him  to  the  officers  of  the  Seven 
ty-sixth,  that  "  Massa  Wallace  got  heaps  o'  perwisions  to  his 
house ;  heaps  ob  sheep,  and  mules,  and  cattle." 

A  foraging  party,  headed  by  Lieutenant  Goddard,  and  com 
posed  of  his  company  (G),  accompanied  by  Lieutenant, 
(afterwards  Lieutenant-Colonel)  Watkins,  the  Quartermaster 
of  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  his  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  (after 
wards  Captain  Jarvis),  proceeded  to  make  a  visit  to  "  Massa 
Wallace."  Accompanied  by  the  means  of  transportation,  the 
party  presented  themselves  to  Mr.  Wallace,  and  requested  a 
donation,  or  at  least  a  sale  on  credit.  He  demurred  ;  declared 
lie  was  the  poorest  man  in  the  county.  His  slaves  had  all  run 
away,  and  left  him  without  help ;  the  Confederate  army  had 
encamped  upon  his  lands,  and  a  general  blight  had  scarcely 
left  him  enough  to  carry  his  little  family  through  the  next 
winter.  His  story  was  well  told,  and  emphasis  duly  given  by 
a  meek  countenance  and  honest  tone ;  but  Lieutenant  God 
dard  had  traveled,  and  knew  that  honeyed  words  and  long 
faces  are  not  infallible  indices  of  truth.  The  Lieutenant  pre 
ferred  to  believe  loyal  "Joe,"  who  had  no  interest  in 
equivocating,  to  "  Massa,"  who,  besides  being  a  rebel,  had  a 
little  interest,  which  might  obscure  his  vision,  or  blunt  his 
judgment. 

A  squad  was,  therefore,  sent  out  to  reconnoiter,  and  take  an 
inventory.  The  result  was  the  return  of  the  party  to  camp 
with  one  pony,  eight  mules,  six  fat  cattle,  several  good  sheep, 
a  large  wagon-load  of  potatoes,  and  as  many  cabbages,  turnips, 


THE  "SLOW  NOTE."  85 

and  other  varieties  of  garden  vegetables,  as  the  Kegiment 
could  consume  before  they  would  spoil ;  and  left  Mr.  Wallace 
more  personal  property  than  he  professed  to  own  when  they 
visited  him.  These  articles  were  paid  for  in  what  one  of  the 
brigade  staff-officers  called  a  "  slow  note,"  which  read  in  these 
words,  varied  to  suit  the  facts : — 

"  The  undersigned  freely  acknowledges  to  have  received,  on  this  first  day 

of  July,  1862,  from Wallace,  of  King  George  county,  Va.,  for  the  use 

and  service  of  the  United  States  of  America,  one  pony,  eight  mules,  six  fat 
cattle,  ten  good  sheep,  one  wagon-load  of  potatoes,  one  wagon-load  of  veg 
etables,  which  I  have  valued  at  one  thousand  dollars.  This  voucher  will 
be  payable  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  upon  sufficient  testimony  being 
presented  that  said  Wallace  has  been  a  loyal  citizen  of  the  United  States 
irom  the  date  hereof.  By  order  of 

BRIG.-GEN.  ABNER  DOUBLEDAY." 

"  CHARLES  A.  WATKIKS,  A.  Q.  M.  U.  S.  A." 

If  the  truth  ever  appears  before  the  tribunal  that  passes 
upon  this  claim,  and  the  tribunal  possesses  the  semblance  of 
integrity,  this  document  will  never  prove  very  valuable  to  Mr. 
Wallace ;  for  dark  days  to  the  Union  cause  soon  succeeded, 
when  every  rebel  sympathizer  became  emboldened,  and  made 
no  concealment  of  his  sympathies  for  the  rebel  cause.  If,  how 
ever,  we  take  the  trials  in  the  court  of  claims,  in  Washington, 
as  a  test,  we  can  readily  believe  that  when  fully  "  reconstructed" 
according  to  "  My  Policy,"  Mr.  Wallace  will  find  ample  proof 
to  show  that  he  was  never  out  of  the  Union  ;  and  could  never, 
by  any  sort  of  inducement,  be  seduced  from  his  allegiance  to 
the  United  States.  And  the  thousand  dollar  certificate  of  the 
Quartermaster  will  be  shown  to  cover  at  least  five  thousand 
dollars  worth  of  property,  and  Wallace  will  forget  to  prove 
that  Colonel  Wainwright  sent  back  the  Shetland  pony  to  its 
master,  because  it  could  be  of  no  use  to  the  service. 

Those  who  have  lived  on  hard  tack  and  salt  junk,  will 
readily  appreciate  the  fresh  beef,  mutton  and  vegetables  which 


86  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

this  excursion  gave  to  the  Seventy-sixth.  The  mules  "  re 
lieved"  those  which  had  been  worn  out  in  the  regimental 
teams,  and  all  ranks  of  officers  and  soldiers  inwardly  thanked 
General  Pope  for  his  foraging  order. 

I  am  informed  by  a  gentleman  who  was  engaged  as  a  clerk 
in  the  office  of  the  Quartermaster-General,  in  Washington,  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  that  large  numbers  of  these  "  slow  notes  " 
and  similar  "  promises  to  pay  "  were  presented  to  that  depart 
ment  for  settlement.  One  illiterate  old  rebel  from  Dinwiddie 
county,  Virginia,  came  all  the  way  to  Washington,  in  June, 
1865,  to  present  his  claim  for  adjustment ;  and  the  laugh  that 
greeted  him  was  a  hearty  one,  when  the  chief  clerk  of  the 
division  of  "Quartermasters'  Stores"  read  the  document  upon 
which  the  old  fellow  based  his  claim,  and  which  was  noth 
ing  more  than  an  order  on  the  Quartermaster  for  pay  for  a 
bushel  of  oats  !  signed  by  a  sergeant  of  a  Wisconsin  regiment. 
The  old  man  insisted  that  the  Yankees  had  devoured  and 
destroyed  all  he  had,  and  that  the  "  officer  "  who  gave  him  the 
order  told  him  that  the  paper  would  secure  him  full  pay  for 
all  that  had  been  taken. 


CHAPT.ER  VIII. 

COLONEL  WAINWRIGHT  ASSUMES  COMMAND  OP  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH— DRILL— SUNDAY 
SERVICES— CELEBRATION  OF  THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY  IN  VIRGINIA— TRUTH  SPOKEN  IN 
A  NEW  LOCALITY— BATTLE  IMPENDING— ORGANIZATION  AND  MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  ARMY 
—MARCH  FROM  FREDERICKSBURG  TO  CULPEPPER— EAGERNESS  OF  THE  MEN— DEATH 
FROM  EXHAUSTION— IN  SEARCH  OF  THE  ENEMY— FORDING  THE  RAPIDAN— A  NIGHT 
MARCH— THE  ARMY  OF  VIRGINIA  CONCENTRATED  AT  CULPEPPER. 

ON  the  second  of  July,  Colonel  William  P.  Wainwright  hav 
ing  been  assigned  to  the  Seventy-sixth,  assumed  command. 
From  this  time  until  the  Regiment  went  into  battle,  all  the 
time  that  could  possibly  be  devoted  to  drill  was  thus  improved. 
The  Regiment  had  been  employed  in  building  bridges,  and 
doing  guard  duty,  greatly  to  the  neglect  of  that  drill  which 
alone  can  make  a  regiment  effective  in  battle.  It  was  a  favor 
ite  theory  with  the  Colonel,  that  to  secure  any  certainty  of 
success,  the  men  must  become  acquainted  with  all  the  move 
ments  required  of  them,  until  every  one  was  as  familiar  as 
household  words. 

Less  than  two  months  elapsed  after  Colonel  "Wainwright 
assumed  command,  before  the  Seventy-sixth  was  engaged  in 
battle — one  of  the  severest  of  the  war — and  we  shall  have 
ample  occasion  to  record  the  benefits  that  resulted  from  that 
two  months'  drill. 

The  first  day  that  Colonel  Wainwright  commanded  the  Reg 
iment,  a  careful  personal  inspection  was  had,  and  the  defective 
guns  condemned  and  replaced  by  perfect  ones ;  old  clothes 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

were  relieved  by  new  ones,  and  soon  the  Seventy-sixth  pre 
sented  itself  in  a  new  dress.  To  those  who  have  been  in  the 
army,  the  weariness  of  squad,  company,  battalion  and 
skirmish  drill  day  after  day,  will  be  readily  appreciated  ;  and 
if  the  boys  did  not  consider  their  new  Colonel  an  arbitrary  and 
cruel  officer,  it  might  be  set  down  as  a  new  wonder.  But 
those  same  men,  in  many  a  subsequent  battle,  as  they  have 
seen  the  lines  of  other  and  poorer  drilled  regiments  waver  and 
finally  break,  while  the  Seventy-sixth  remained  firm,  have 
inwardly,  and  many  of  them  openly,  thanked  the  officer  who 
forced  them  to  a  drill  thus  beneficial. 

The  first  Sabbath  that  Colonel  "Wainwright  was  in  the  Reg 
iment,  he  requested  one  of  the  Captains,  whose  avocation  in 
civil  life  was  ministerial,  to  conduct  religious  services,  the 
Chaplain  being  absent.  This  the  Captain  declined.  The 
Colonel,  ready  for  any  emergency,  gave  notice  that  at  a  cer 
tain  hour  religious  services  would  be  held  under  a  specified 
tree.  At  the  appointed  time,  when  the  men  and  officers  had 
seated  themselves  upon  the  grass,  the  Colonel  stepped  forward 
and  read  a  prayer.  lie  then  read  a  hymn,  which  was  sung 
by  the  Regiment,  when  he  proceeded  to  read  a  sermon.  Un 
like  many  as  high  in  command,  the  influence  of  Colonel 
Wain wright  upon  the  men  was  most  excellent. 

July  Fourth  was  celebrated  at  Brigade  headquarters,  at  the 
Phillips  house,  in  true  Northern  style.  Captain  Noyes,  of 
General  Doubleday's  staff,  delivered  an  eloquent  and  patriotic 
address.  It  was  one  which  would  hardly  have  been  listened 
to  bv  the  degenerate  sons  of  the  "  Old  Dominion,"  but  was, 

t/  C 

nevertheless,  one  well  adapted  to  the  locality  and  the  times. 
Such  truths  were  not  usually  spoken  in  any  part  of  the  country 
covered  by  the  dark  pall  of  slavery.  Could  the  ashes  of  the 
mother  of  Washington,  then  sleeping  across  the  river  in  view 
of  the  speaker,  and  almost  within  the  sound  of  his  voice,  have 


PPEPABATIONS  FOE  BATTLE.  89 

revived  at  that  moment,  she  would  alone,  of  all  the  white 
Virginians  in  that  vicinity,  have  shouted  amen  to  these  patriotic 
utterances.  The  soldiers  who  volunteered  to  put  clown  this 
rebellion,  heartily  responded  to  the  sentiments,  and  consecrated 
themselves  anew  to  their  holy  mission. 

While  General  Pope  was  concentrating  his  forces,  the  series 
of  battles  commenced,  which  preceded  and  attended  the 
retreat  of  McClellan  from  the  Chickahominy  towards  Jlarri: 
son's  Landing. 

It  was  the  policy  of  the  Government  and  General  Pope,  in 
case  of  the  defeat  of  the  army  under  General  McClellan,  and 
in  case  the  rebels  made  an  attempt  upon  Washington,  or  in 
that  direction,  to  throw  such  obstacles  in  their  way  as  was  in 
the  power  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,  and  thus  hold  the  enemy 
in  check  until  the  arrival  at  Aquia  Creek,  or  Alexandria,  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  To  accomplish  this  the  more 
effectually,  General  Pope  ordered  General  King  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  to  send  forward  detachments  of  his  cavalry  to  operate 
upon  the  line  of  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  and  as  far  as 
possible  to  embarrass  and  destroy  communication  between 
Richmond  and  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  General  King 
accordingly  dispatched  several  cavalry  expeditions  for  that 
purpose,  which  were  completely  successful  and  succeeded  on 
different  occasions  in  breaking  up  the  railroad  at  several 
points.  General  Pope  at  the  same  time  ordered  General 
Banks  to  send  forward  an  infantry  brigade,  with  all  his  cav 
alry,  to  march  rapidly  upon  Culpepper  Court  House,  and  after 
taking  possession  of  that  place,  to  push  cavalry  forward 
towards  the  Rapidan,  in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  July,  after  this  movement  was  success 
fully  accomplished,  General  Pope  directed  General  Banks  to 
move  forward  during  the  night  of  that  day  the  whole  of  his 
cavalry  force,  under  General  Hatch,  and  take  possession  of 


90  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  ~N.  Y.  Y. 

Gordonsville,  and  destroy  the  railroad  for  ten  or  fifteen  miles 
east  of  that  place,  with  a  portion  of  his  forces,  while  all  re 
maining  hastened  on  in  the  direction  of  Charlottesville, 
destroying  the  railroad  bridges,  and  interrupting  that  line  of 
communication  as  far  as  practicable.  At  that  time  there  was 
no  force  of  the  enemy  at  Gordonsville.  Before  General 
Hatch  reached  Gordonsville,  the  advance  of  Jackson's  forces 
under  Ewell  had  reached  that  place,  and  the  proposed  move 
ments,  as  ordered,  became  impracticable. 

General  Banks  was  ordered  by  General  Pope  to  pro 
ceed  on  the  seventh  of  August,  and  take  post  at  the  point 
where  the  turnpike  from  Sperry  ville  to  Culpepper  crosses  Hazel 
river.  General  McDowell  was  also  ordered  to  move  forward 
with  Rickett's  Division,  from  Waterloo  Bridge  to  Culpepper 
Court  House ;  so  that  on  the  seventh  day  of  August,  all  the 
infantry  and  artillery  forces  of  the  Army  of  Virginia  were 
assembled  along  the  turnpike  from  Sperryville  to  Culpepper, 
and  numbered  about  twenty-eight  thousand  five  hundred  men. 
This  did  not  include  King's  Division  at  Fredericksburg,  and 
which  was  not  available  for  active  operations  in  the  direction 
of  Gordonsville. 

On  the  fourth  of  August,  General  Burnside  arrived  with  his 
army  from  North  Carolina.  He  was  to  hold  Fredericksburg. 
This  indicated  that  King's  Division  was  to  make  its  long  con 
templated  forward  movement. 

That  the  reader  may  more  clearly  understand  the  part  which 
the  Seventy-sixth  took  in  the  battle  to  be  hereafter  described, 
it  may  be  well  here  to  state  the  different  organizations  com 
posing  King's  Division,  as  it  is  often  necessary  to  speak  of 
brigades  and  divisions  instead  of  regiments.  A  regiment  in 
civil  life  is  considered  an  important  and  imposing  organization ; 
but  it  is  quite  likely  to  be  lost  sight  of  in  the  reports  of  battles 
in  which  from  fifty  thousand  to  one  hundred  thousand  men  are 
engaged. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  KING'S  DIVISION.  01 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  speaking,  Major-General 
Eufus  King  commanded  the  First  Division  of  the  First  Army 
Corps.  Four  or  five  regiments,  as  the  army  was  organized, 
constituted  a  brigade  ;  three  or  four  brigades  a  division  ;  and 
three  or  four  divisions  an  army  corps.  The  First  Brigade  of 
King's  Division  was  under  command  of  General  Hatch,  and 
consisted  of  the  Second  Eegiment  of  United  States  Sharp 
shooters,  and  four  regiments  of  New  York  troops.  The 
Second  Brigade  was  under  General  Doubleday,  and  composed 
of  the  Seventy-sixth  and  Ninety-fifth  New  York  Eegiments, 
and  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  to  which  was  afterwards 
added  the  Seventh  Indiana.  The  Third  Brigade  was  under 
General  Patrick,  and  composed  of  four  New  York  regiments. 
The  Fourth  Brigade  was  under  General  Gibbon,  and  com 
posed  of  one  Indiana  and  three  Wisconsin  regiments. 

On  the  seventh  of  August,  General  Pope  inspected  the 
troops  under  General  Siegcl,  at  Sperryville,  and,  while  there, 
learned  that  the  enemy  was  crossing  the  Eapidan  at  several 
points  between  the  railroad  crossing  of  that  river,  and  Liberty 
Mills.  He  proceeded  to  Culpepper  Court  House,  which  he 
reached  the  next  morning.  This  place  had  been  occupied 
several  days  by  Crawford's  brigade,  of  Banks's  corps,  and  on 
the  day  before,  Eickett's  division  of  McDowell's  corps  had 
also  arrived.  On  the  eighth  reports  continued  to  come  in 
from  General  Bayard,  who  was  slowly  falling  back  in  the  di 
rection  of  Culpepper  Court  House,  the  enemy  advancing ; 
and  from  General  Buford,  who  also  reported  the  enemy  ad 
vancing  in  heavy  force  upon  Madison  Court  House.  General 
Pope  was  in  doubt  from  the  reports  whether  the  enemy's 
movement  was  in  the  direction  of  Madison  Court  House,  or 
of  Culpepper.  His  instructions,  however,  requiring  him  to 
keep  his  communications  good  with  Fredericksburg,  and  by 
no  means  to  permit  the  enemy  to  get  between  him  and  that 


92  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

place,  lie  deemed  it  advisable  to  concentrate  his  whole  force  in 
the  direction  of  Culpepper,  so  as  to  keep  his  whole  force  be 
tween  the  enemy  and  the  lower  fords  of  the  Rappahannock. 
Early  in  the  day  General  Crawford's  Brigade  was  pushed  for 
ward  in  the  -direction  of  Cedar  or  Slaughter  Mountain,  to 
support  General  Bayard,  who  was  falling  back  in  that  direc 
tion,  and  to  assist  him  in  determining  the  movements  and 
forces  of  the  enemy.  General  Banks  was  also  ordered  to  move 
rapidly  from  Hazel  river  to  Culpepper  Court  House,  and  Gen 
eral  Siegel  was  ordered  to  march  at  once  to  the  same  place 
from  Sperryville.  Siegel  did  not  arrive  as  early  as  was 
expected,  which  rendered  it  impracticable  for  that  Corps  to  be 
pushed  forward  to  that  point  on  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day, 
as  General  Pope  had  intended. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  ninth  of  August,  General  Pope 
directed  General  Banks  to  move  forward  towards  Cedar 
Mountain,  with  his  whole  Corps,  and  to  join  General  Crawford 
who  had  been  sent  there  the  day  previous. 

Thus  much  has  been  stated  of  the  forces,  that  the  reader 
may  have  some  idea  of  the  condition  of  affairs  two  or  three 
days  afterward,  when  the  Seventy-sixth  arrived  at  Culpepper. 
On  the  ninth  of  August,  orders  were  received  for  King's 
Division  to  leave  Fredericksburg  and  join  the  First  Corps  at 
Culpepper.  At  four  P.  M.,  all  was  ready.  The  men  were 
heavily  laden  with  knapsacks,  extra  ammunition,  and  three 
days'  inarching  rations  in  their  haversacks.  As  the  Regiments 
wheeled  into  line,  the  band  struck  up  a  spirited  air,  and  the 
Brigade  was  soon  crossing  the  pontoons  into  Fredericksburg. 

The  bridge  which  the  Seventy-sixth  had  built,  had  been 
carried  away  by  a  recent  freshet. 

After  the  troops  came  the  long  train  of  brigade  and  regiment 
al  wagons,  carrying  officers'  baggage,  camp  kettles  and  other 
cooking  utensils,  followed  by  the  supply  train  laden  with 


LEAVING  FREDERICKSBURG.  93 

• 
forage  and  subsistence,  and  the  whole  followed  by  the  rear 


guard. 


Never  were  men  more  anxious  for  a  march  than  were  those 
stationed  around  Frederieksburg.  The  summer  months  had 
dragged  their  slow  length  along,  and  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  the  sick  and  convalescent  troops  were  kept  from  following 
their  regiment. 

I  have  before  me  now  the  diary  of  a  Sergeant  of  Company 
13,  who  was  prevented  from  marching  with  his  company,  and 
the  "  burden  of  his  song  "  each  day,  is  a  hope  that  the  next 
day  he  will  be  able  to  join  the  Regiment.  As  it  was,  he  went 
as  far  as  Chancellorsville,  but  was  obliged  to  return  to  Frede 
rieksburg,  greatly  to  his  disappointment. 

The  day  was  very  hot,  and  as  an  illustration  of  the  eager 
ness  with  which  the  troops  pressed  forward,  it  is  proper  to 
state  that  one  man,  at  least,  whose  anxiety  to  get  along  was 
greater  than  his  physical  strength,  actually  fell  down  exhausted, 
and  expired  on  the  sidewalk,  before  his  regiment  had  left  the 
city. 

It  was  a  beautiful  evening.  The  polished  barrels  glistened 
in  the  moonbeams,  as  onward  the  column  rushed,  till,  finally, 
as  the  first  excitement  wore  off,  and  the  troops  began  to  weary, 
they  calmed  down  to  a  sober  walk,  and  at  about  midnight 
came  to  a  halt  for  the  remainder  of  the  night,  nine  miles  from 
Frederieksburg. 

When  we  consider  that  these  troops  were  unaccustomed  to 
marching,  and  that  the  common  load  for  a  soldier,  fully 
equipped,  is  about  eighty  pounds,  we  are  enabled  to  under 
stand  that  they  inarched  a  good  distance,  and  made  good 
time  this  first  day. 

The  troops  were  bivouacked  in  the  fields  on  either  side  of 
the  road,  and  there,  wrapped  in  their  blankets  upon  the  ground, 
with  the  broad  canopy  of  stars  above  them,  they  slept  the  re 
mainder  of  their  first  night  in  search  of  the  enemy. 


94  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

At  sunrise  the  next  day,  they  were  up  and  cooking  their 
coffee,  cracking  their  jokes,  and  questioning  each  other  as  to 
the  probability  of  being  blessed  with  a  sight  of  game,  in  the 
persons  of  "  Johnnies  "  in  grey. 

There  is  no  class  of  persons  who  bear  privations  with  a  bet 
ter  grace  than  the  soldier.  After  he  has  been  out  six  months, 
with  a  few  hard  biscuits,  a  cup  of  coffee,  and  sticks  enough  to 
make  a  fire,  he  will  make  a  satisfactory  meal ;  and  while  he 
blows  the  smoke  from  his  face  with  one  hand,  and  holds  the 
cup  of  coffee  over  the  fire  with  the  other,  he  will  sing  and  joke 
with  a  better  relish  than  when  eating  a  well  cooked  dinner  in 
his  quiet  home. 

In  the  course  of  an  hour  after  daybreak  the  troops  were 
again  on  their  way  in  search  of  the  enemy. 

The  roads  were  good,  but  the  day  was  extremely  hot,  and  it 
was  necessary  to  make  frequent  halts  to  prevent  the  men  falling 
out  from  sheer  exhaustion.  The  men  were  permitted  to  carry 
their  arms  as  was  most  convenient,  and  were- marched  at  the 
"  rout  step,"  the  only  requirement  being  that  they  should  keep 
in  line  with  their  companies.  There  was  no  martial  music  ; 
nothing  but  the  steady  tramp,  tramp,  from  morn  till  night. 

The  Regiment  arrived  at  Chancellorsville  about  ten  A.  M. 
At  this  point  stood  one  of  General  Doubleday's  staff  officers, 
who  informed  Adjutant  Robinson  that  the  object  of  the  march 
was  to  reinforce  General  Banks,  who  was  even  then  hotly  en 
gaged  with  Stonewall  Jackson  some  distance  beyond  the 
Rapidan.  The  General's  instructions  were  to  hurry  up  the 
troops  as  fast  as  the  great  heat  of  the  day  would  admit,  but 
not  to  let  the  men  know  that  fighting  was  going  on,  lest  they 
should  exert  themselves  too  much.  The  Adjutant,  in  speak 
ing  of  this,  says  : — 

"  Murder  will  out,  though,  and  the  men  seemed  to  have  an 
intuitive  perception,  from  the  appearance  of  things,  that  gun- 


Ox  THE  MARCH  TO  CUI/PEPPER.  95 

powder  was  being  burned  not  a  great  way  oft';  for  I  very  soon 
observed  many  knowing  winks,  a  sort  of  stiffening  of  the 
back,  a  throwing  back  of  the  head  and  elevation  of  the  nose, 
together  with  an  evident  desire  to  rid  themselves  of  some  of 
their  extra  traps,  which  convinced  me  they  understood  matters 
as  well  as  though  the  same  had  been  explained  to  them  in 
'  special  orders.'  r 

By  noon  large  numbers  had  fallen  out  from  exhaustion  ; 
some  because  they  preferred  resting  to  marching.  These 
latter  were  brought  up  by  the  rear  guard,  and  the  former  were 
helped  into  ambulances  and  brought  on.  Many,  however, 
evaded  the  guard ;  some  to  return  to  their  regiments  after 
they  had  halted  for  the  night,  and  many  have  never  been 
heard  from  since. 

At  six  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  Division  reached  Ely's  Ford.  Here 
it  was  necessary  to  cross  the  Rapid  an,  at  this  point  about  two 
hundred  feet  in  width.  A  recent  heavy  shower  had  raised  the 
stream  to  the  wraist,  and  yet  it  must  be  forded  before  camping 
for  the  night.  In  rushed  the  men,  nothing  daunted,  even  at 
the  idea  of  a  severe  drenching. 

The  Brigade  was  halted  for  the  night  in  the  field;  arms 
stacked ;  boughs  obtained  for  beds ;  the  camp-fires  lit ;  the 
evening  meals  soon  in  course  of  preparation,  and  again  the 
jokes  and  the  stories  were  passing  around,  and,  though  wet  to 
the  skin,  our  boys  were  again  happy. 

Orders  were  given  by  the  Commanding  General,  that  the 
troops  should  retire  immediately  after  their  evening  meal ; 
that  the  camp  remain  absolutely  quiet,  so  that  the  faintest 
sound  of  a  distant  engagement,  or  the  slightest  movement  of 
an  approaching  enemy,  might  be  heard.  The  only  persons, 
except  the  guard,  allowed  to  be  up,  were  the  company  cooks, 
who  were  ordered  to  have  cooked  rations  prepared  for  their 
respective  companies,  for  the  ensuing  day's  inarch.  The  bugle 


96  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

call  to  fall  in  would  be  sounded  at  headquarters  at  precisely 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  the  second  call  the  Seventy- 
sixth  was  to  immediately  file  into  the  road  and  take  position 
at  the  head  of  the  column. 

One  by  one  our  brave  boys  stretched  themselves  upon  the 
"  heather "  and  slept  as  well  as  their  aching  limbs  would 
permit.  To-morrow  was  to  bring  them  face  to  face  with  the 
enemy,  they  supposed,  and  the  near  approach  of  the  event 
robbed  it  of  many  of  its  charms.  It  is  all  pleasant  in  war 
meetings,  a  thousand  miles  from  danger,  to  talk  of  the  glory 
of  dying  for  one's  country  ;  we  can  almost  envy  Leonidas  and 
his  brave  three  hundred,  as  we  read  of  their  deeds  in  rhyme 
and  prose ;  but  arrived  almost  face  to  face  with  the  enemy, 
wre  think  of  friends  at  home,  and  the  air  castles  we  have  built 
for  the  future,  and  which  one  stray  bullet  may  cause  to  topple 
and  fall,  the  poetry  of  fighting  loses  much  of  its  bewitching 
sweetness ;  and  a  man  is  a  little  other  than  natural  if  he  does 
not  wish  that  the  difficulty  might  be  settled  without  the  effu 
sion  of  blood.  Strange  misgivings — not  of  cowardice,  but  a 
sort  of  repugnance  of  nature  to  the  idea  of  having  ourselves 
set  up  as  a  mark  to  be  shot  at,  found  entertainment  in  many 
of  those  patriotic  bosoms  that  night ;  but  sleep  came  at  last, 
and  transported  them  from  the  impending  crisis  of  the  mor 
row,  to  friends,  and  social  gatherings,  and  heart-communings 
with  those  they  loved  in  their  Northern  homes. 

One  o'clock  soon  arrived,  however,  and  all  was  activity 
again.  The  coffee  was  hastily  swallowed,  and  on  went  the 
Division  towards  Culpepper. 

The  advance  guard  was  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Grover  of  Company  A,  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  who,  three  weeks 
later,  at  Gainesville,  fell  pierced  by  five  bullets,  and  lay  for 
weeks  upon  his  weary  bed,  to  be  at  length,  on  recovering,  pro 
moted  to  the  position  of  Major,  and  then  offer  up  his  life  at 


FKEDERICKSBURG  TO  CULPEPPEK.  97 

the  bloody  field  of  Gettysburg.  At  three  o'clock,  all  things 
being  ready,  the  column  moved,  and  in  the  strictest  silence, 
marched  until  daylight.  No  one  who  participated  in  that 
night  march  will  soon  forget  it.  It  was  a  lovely  night — 
neither  so  light  nor  yet  so  dark  but  that  the  waving  branches 
cast  their  tremulous  shadows  over  the  roadway,  now  and  then 
of  a  figure  resembling  an  imaginary  concealed  enemy  in  the  act 
of  springing  from  his  ambush — for  which  this  timber  land 
afforded  many  fine  locations — no  sound  heard  but  the  steady 
tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  smothered  word  of  command,  as  it 
was  passed  from  the  front  down  the  left  of  platoons,  to  the 
extreme  rear,  the  rumbling  of  carefully-driven  ambulances, 
the  situation,  the  time,  the  accompaniments,  and  above  all, 
the  cause,  taken  together,  were  enough  to  photograph  a  never- 
fading  impression  on  the  mind  of  any  ordinary  subject. 

About  daybreak  Richard's  Cross  Roads  was  reached.  Here 
the  Brigade  came  to  a  halt,  and  remained  for  three  hours, 
while  crowding  the  roads  with  cavalry,  artillery  and  infantry, 
the  other  three  Brigades  of  the  Division  passed.  They  had 
come  by  another  road,  which,  at  this  point,  joined  the  road 
over  which  our  Brigade  had  marched. 

Towards  night,  orders  came  for  a  forced  march,  as  General 
Pope  intended  to  attack  the  enemy  the  next  day.  The  men, 
therefore,  unslung  their  knapsacks,  and,  leaving  them  in  care 
of  a  guard,  rushed  forward  without  them. 

At  night  the  men  rolled  themselves  in  their  blankets,  and 
the  teams  and  rations  being  several  miles  behind,  they  went 
supperless  to  bed  on  the  ground. 

The  morrow  was  sure  to  bring  a  bloody  battle,  and  with 
nothing  but  this  contemplation  to  disturb  their  slumbers,  they 
slept. 

Morning  at  last  came,  and  found  the  men  refreshed.  Or 
ders  for  the  fight  were  expected,  but  instead  came  the 


98  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

intelligence  that  a  bloody  battle  had  been  fought  at  Cedar 
Mountain  on  Saturday,  and  Jackson  had  withdrawn  his  army 
and  was  marching  towards  Gordonsville. 

The  Brigade  of  General  Doubleday  was  now  bivouacked  in 
an  open  field  near  the  highway,  and  about  half  way  between 
Culpepper  Court  House  and  Cedar  Mountain. 

The  entire  Army  of  Virginia  under  General  Pope,  before 
scattered  over  Northern  Virginia  from  the  Shenandoah  to 
Fredericksburg,  was  now  concentrated  in  and  about  Culpep 
per.  On  every  hand  all  was  life  and  activity.  The  fields 
were  filled  with  artillery,  cavalry  and  infantry — not  encamped 
as  when  about  Washington  ;  but  in  a  state  of  unrest.  The 
roads  were  crowded  with  army  wagons,  going  to  and  from  the 
station  at  Culpepper ;  nor  were  the  ambulances  idle.  A 
severe  battle  had  been  fought  by  General  Banks,  at  Cedar 
Mountain,  and  large  numbers  of  the  wounded  were  being  con 
veyed  from  the  field.  The  weather  was  extremely  hot,  and 
many  of  our  men  had  fallen,  and  several  died  from  sun-stroke. 

The  men  had  brought  their  shelter  tents,  and  now  that 
marching  was  ended,  and  fighting  for  the  time  suspended, 
these  little  tents  were  soon  erected,  and  thus  furnished  a  par 
tial  defense  to  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

A  FIGHT  IMMINENT— CARTRIDGES  DISTRIBUTED— No  ENEMY  APPEARS— FORAGING— BAT 
TLE-FIELD  OF  CEDAR  MOUNTAIN— " FALL  IN"— RETREAT  OP  GENERAL  POPE  COM 
MENCED—THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  UNDER  FIRE  FOR  THE  FIRST  TIME— BATTLE  OF 
RAPPAHANXOCK  STATION— IMPROPER  LIBERTIES  WITH  A  RAIL  PILLOW— ARRIVAL  AT 
WARRENTON— BOLD  INSTANCE  OF  FORAGING. 

August  V&th. — Considerable  excitement  prevailed  at  Brigade 
headquarters  this  morning.  Colonel  Wainwright  called  our 
officers  together,  and  informed  them  that  the  enemy  was  near 
and  liable  to  attack  in  force  at  any  moment,  and  that  he 
trusted  every  man  would  do  his  whole  duty,  placing  his  reli 
ance  upon  the  God  of  battles. 

Every  man  was  at  once  supplied  with  his  full  number  of 
rounds  of  ammunition.  This  done,  events  were  quietly, 
though  somewhat  nervously,  awaited.  The  enemy,  however, 
did  not  attack,  and  the  Regiment  remained  in  camp  until  the 
fifteenth. 

After  resting  the  twelfth,  the  boys  began  to  feel  the  need  of 
fresh  meat,  vegetables,  and  such  things  as  give  relish  to  hard 
tack,  and  nothing  could  have  been  deemed  more  apropos  than 
General  Pope's  foraging  and  subsistence  order. 

This  part  of  the  State  was  well  supplied  with  corn,  pigs, 
sheep  and  cattle,  and  the  men  made  hunting,  a  profitable  as 
well  as  pleasant  recreation. 


100  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

"  Halt !  "Where  did  you  get  that  fowl,  sir  ?"  shouted  the 
guard,  as  a  private  tugged  along  the  game  cock  of  a  neighbor 
ing  rebel. 

"  Down  yonder  at  that  plantation." 

"  But,  don't  you  know  it  is  against  orders  to  interfere  with 
private  property  ?•" 

"  I  know  it  was,  once ;  but,  you  know,  General  Pope  says 
that  it  is  always  proper  to  forage  upon  the  enemy,  and  thus 
weaken  him.  We  train  under  a  different  General  now,  and 
old  rules  don't  apply." 

"  But,"  replied  the  guard,  "  to  make  foraging  legal  it  must 
be  sanctioned  by  the  order  of  a  commanding  officer.  Where 
is  your  foraging  order  ?" 

u  Oh,  but  I  put  the  little  matter  on  a  different  footing  from 
ordinary  foraging.  I'll  tell  you  how  it  was.  You  see,  I  went 
down  to  learn  if  there  was  anything  on  which  to  base  a  for 
aging  order.  An  order,  you  know,  don't  amount  to  anything 
unless  there  is  something  to  enforce  it  upon.  Well,  as  I  was 
looking  about  a  tree,  I  heard  a  shout  for  Jeff.  Davis.  In  my 
loyal  wrath  I  threw  a  stone  into  the  tree  and  down  came  this 
cock.  Anybody  wasting  good  rations  is  liable  to  court  mar 
tial,  and  so  I  concluded  to  preserve  him." 

"  The  argument  is  unanswerable,  pass  on,"  said  the  guard, 
expecting  the  favor  would  be  reciprocated  on  the  morrow, 
when  the  parties  to  the  colloquy  were  transposed. 

Every  day  squads  of  foragers  would  go  to  the  neighboring 
plantations  and  return  with  a  fat  pig,  sheep,  or  beef,  while 
green  corn  and  apples,  just  at  this  time  in  their  glory,  added 
their  share  to  the  temptations  of  army  life  in  Virginia. 
Whether  General  Pope's  order  improved  the  sanitary  condi 
tion  of  his  army  is  not  so  clear ;  but  that  it  materially  aided 
in  making  camp  life  seem  homelike,  can  be  proven  by  all  the 
survivors  of  the  succeeding  campaigns. 


BATTLE-FIELD  OF  CEDAR  MOUNTAIN;  101 

Just  enough  of  the  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  at  an 
hour's  notice  were  indulged  in  by  the  commanding  officers  to 
give  zest  to  the  brief  stay  at  Culpepper. 

August  16th. — Orders  were  received  to  inarch,  tents  were 
struck,  and  the  Regiment  in  line  at  eight  o'clock  ;  but  owing  to 
one  of  those  inevitable  delays  usually  witnessed  in  the  army, 
the  Eegiment  did  not  move  until  eleven. 

This  march  was  over  the  battle-field  of  the  previous  Satur 
day.  The  field  was  about  three  miles  in  extent,  and  every 
where  the  sickening  evidences  of  the  late  battle  presented 
themselves.  The  horses  and  mules  killed  in  the  battle  were 
yet  unburied,  and  though  an  effort  had  been  made  to  bury  the 
soldiers  who  had  fallen  in  that  terrible  struggle,  it  had  been  so 
hastily  and  imperfectly  done  that  now  and  then  a  body  was 
found  lying  upon  the  field.  The  stench  was  almost  suffocating, 
and  the  buzzards  swarming  in  the  air  plainly  told  of  the  aw 
ful  carnage  which  war  had  made  within  one  short  week. 

Here  was  the  introductory  lesson.  Jackson  had  presented 
his  problem  ;  Banks  had  solved  it,  and  all  around  lay  the  an 
swer  for  us  to  contemplate.  It  would  be  folly  to  expect  any 
man  possessing  sensibilities  keener  than  those  of  a  brute,  to 
look  such  a  scene  squarely  in  the  face,  and  say  he  did  not 
dread  such  a  conflict.  The  more  honor  to  our  noble  farmer 
boys  who  were  sustained  on  such  terrible  occasions  by  a  holy 
love  of  country — a  due  appreciation  of  the  great  principle  for 
which  they  were  fighting,  and  for  which  their  fathers  fought 
before  them. 

At  one  o'clock  the  Regiment  halted  and  went  into  camp  at 
the  foot  of  Cedar  Mountain.  On  Monday,  the  eighteenth,  the 
mail  was  received — the  first  since  the  Regiment  left  Frede- 
ricksburg.  JSTone  but  those  who  have  been  in  the  army  can 
duly  appreciate  our  postal  facilities,  as,  after  being  cut  off  from 
the  loyal  world,  it  brings  words  of  cheer  from  the  loved  ones 
at  home. 


102  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N".  Y.  Y. 

Tlie  letters  had  hardly  been  distributed,  when  the  order  to 
"  fall  in  "  rang  out  through  the  camp.  No  one  knew  the  ob 
ject  or  destination.  Tents  were  struck,  and  at  five  P.  M.  the 
Regiment  was  in  marching  order.  Then  came  the  order  to 
break  ranks,  and  soon  the  boys  were  encamped  for  the  night. 

In  the  face  of  the  enemy,  in  sight  of  the  battle-field  of  a 
week  before,  these  orders  to  march  will  be  readily  understood 
to  have  been  very  exciting,  summoning  all  the  courage  which 
an  enlightened  patriotism  could  inspire. 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  orders  came  again  to  fall  in,  this  time 
awakening  the  men  from  a  sound  slumber.  All  along  the 
line,  at  each  tent,  the  sergeant  or  corporal  shouted  "fall  in  !" 
"fall  in !"  The  men,  half  aroused,  rushed  out,  and,  stumbling 
along  through  the  darkness,  were  soon  formed  in  line  in  a 
little  hollow  back  of  the  camp. 

As  they  became  more  awakened,  the  anxious  inquiry  was 
made,  "  Where  now  ?"  but  no  one  could  answer.  They  only 
knew  that  marching  orders  were  received  and  whether  they 
should  march,  or  again  break  ranks  was  all  unknown. 

The  wagons  in  the  advance  had  been  moving  to  the  rear  all 
the  evening. 

The  Regiment  was  finally,  after  some  delay,  marched  about 
twenty  rods,  and  halted  an  hour ;  then  a  little  further  and 
halted  again.  At  last,  at  three  o'clock,  the  order  was  given 
to  break  ranks.  The  night  was  very  cold  ;  at  least,  the  con 
trast  between  the  night  air  and  the  excessively  warm  days  was 
severely  felt.  Many  of  the  men  had  thrown  away  their 
clothing  to  lighten  their  loads,  on  the  march,  and  now  suffered 
from  the  loss. 

A  large  pile  of  rails  and  wood  was  collected  and  a  fire 
built,  around  which,  upon  the  ground,  the  men  slept  the  re 
mainder  of  the  night. 

At  sunrise  they  were  awakened  with  the  orders  to  get 


POPE'S  RETREAT  COMMENCED.  103 

breakfast  and  prepare  for  a  march,  and  at  nine  o'clock  they 
were  recrossing  the  battle-field  in  the  direction  of  Culpepper. 
The  day  was  intensely  hot,  and  the  march  was  continued 
until  about  eleven  that  night,  when  the  Regiment  encamped 
in  a  piece  of  "  scrub-oak  "  woods. 

At  day-break  the  next  morning,  the  men  were  ordered  to 
get  ready  to  march.  A  hasty  cup  of  coffee  and  a  few  hard 
tack  constituted  the  breakfast,  which  was  barely  disposed  of, 
when  the  Regiment  was  again  in  motion. 

This  was  the  turning-point  in  the  forward  movement  of 
General  Pope  upon  Richmond. 

The  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain  was  fought  on  Saturday, 
August  ninth.  The  next  day  was  too  hot,  and  the  men  too 
much  exhausted  on  both  sides,  to  renew  the  fight.  In  conse 
quence  of  the  vigorous  resistance  of  the  night  previous,  and 
the  severe  loss  of  the  enemy  in  attempting  to  advance,  before 
daylight  of  the  tenth,  Jackson  drew  back  his  forces  towards 
Cedar  Mountain,  about  two  miles  from  the  front  of  our  army. 
Our  pickets  were  immediately  moved  forward,  supported  by 
Milroy's  Brigade,  and  occupied  the  ground. 

General  Pope's  whole  army,  exclusive  of  General  Eanks's 
Corps,  which  was  in  no  condition  for  service,  numbered  about 
twenty  thousand,  artillery  and  infantry,  and  about  two  thou 
sand  cavalry.  General  King,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been 
ordered  forward,  and  after  a  prompt  and  very  fatiguing  march, 
arrived  on  the  ground  late  in  the  evening  of  the  eleventh. 
The  day  was  occupied  by  both  armies  in  burying  the  dead  and 
bringing  off  the  wounded. 

Although  after  General  King  joined  the  main  force,  Gene 
ral  Pope's  army  only  about  equaled  that  of  Jackson,  he 
determined,  after  giving  King's  Division  one  night's  rest,  to 
fall  upon  the  enemy  at  daylight  of  the  twelfth,  on  his  line  of 
communication,  and  compel  him  to  fight  a  battle  which  must 


104  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

have  been  decisive  for  one  army  or  the  other.  But  during  the 
night  of  the  eleventh,  the  enemy  evacuated  his  position  in 
front,  and  retreated  rapidly  across  the  Kapidan  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Gordonsville,  leaving  many  of  his  dead  and  wounded 
on  the  field  and  along  the  road  from  Cedar  Mountain  to 
Orange  Court  House.  The  losses  on  each  side  were  severe  ; 
but  no  baggage  trains  or  material  of  war  were  sacrificed  by 
either  army. 

A  strong  cavalry  force,  under  Generals  Buford  and  Bayard, 
pursued  the  enemy  to  the  Kapidan,  and  captured  many  strag 
glers. 

This  was  the  condition  of  things  at  the  time  mentioned 
above,  when  the  Seventy-sixth  wras  disappointed  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  twelfth,  on  finding  they  were  not  to  go  into  battle. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  General  Reno,  with  eight  thousand 
men,  of  the  forces  which  had  arrived  at  Falmouth  with  Gene 
ral  Burn  side,  joined  General  Pope. 

From  the  twelfth  to  the  eighteenth  of  August,  reports  con 
stantly  reached  General  Pope  of  large  forces  of  the  enemy 
reinforcing  Jackson  from  the  direction  of  Richmond,  and  by 
the  morning  of  the  eighteenth  he  became  satisfied  that  nearly 
the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  from  Richmond  was  assembling 
in  his  front  along  the  Rapidan. 

From  the  capture  of  General  Stuart's  Adjutant-General, 
made  by  our  cavalry  in  the  direction  of  Louisa  Court  House, 
and  from  papers  found  with  him,  including  a  letter  from  Gen 
eral  Robert  E.  Lee  to  General  Stuart,  dated  at  Gordonsville, 
August  fifteenth,  General  Pope  became  satisfied  as  to  the 
position  and  force  of  the  enemy,  and  their  determination  to 
overwhelm  the  army  under  his  command  before  it  could  be 
reinforced  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  saw  that  it 
would  be  presumptuous  for  him  to  attempt  a  battle  with  his 


AT  RAPPAHANNOCK.  105 

small  force  against  such  overwhelming  numbers,  and  decided 
to  withdraw  as  rapidly  as  possible  behind  the  Rappahannock. 

The  trains  of  the  different  Corps  were  ordered  across  that 
stream  at  different  fords,  to  be  followed  by  the  respective 
corps.  During  the  day  and  night  of  the  eighteenth,  and  day 
of  the  nineteenth,  this  was  accomplished,  so  that  on  the  night 
of  the  nineteenth  the  whole  army,  with  its  trains,  was  posted 
behind  that  stream  upon  the  north  bank. 

On  the  morning  of  the  twentieth  our  pickets  were  driven  in 
at  Kelly's  Ford  and  Rappahannock  Station,  but  finding  those 
fords  covered  by  our  troops,  and  that  it  would  be  impractica 
ble  to  force  a  passage  of  the  river  without  great  loss,  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  halted,  and  the  main  body  of  his  army 
was  brought  forward  from  the  Eapidan. 

At  this  time,  (August  twentieth),  the  Seventy-sixth  was 
encamped  about  half  a  mile  from  the  river,  upon  a  knoll,  from 
which  was  plainly  visible  the  whole  of  General  Banks's  Corps. 
Batteries  were  planted  all  along  the  river ;  the  infantry  was 
forming  in  line  of  battle ;  the  rebels'  advance  was  in  sight  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river ;  our  rear  guard  of  cavalry  were 
crossing  the  river  northward,  many  of  them  wounded  during 
their  late  skirmishes,  and  altogether  the  appearances  indicated 
pretty  strongly  that  a  battle  was  imminent. 

On  the  twenty-first,  General  Pope  was  assured  that  if  he 
would  hold  his  position  for  two  days,  he  would  be  so  strongly 
reinforced  as  not  only  to  be  secure  in  his  position,  but  would 
be  able  to  resume  operations ;  but  after  having  held  his  posi 
tion  until  the  twenty-fifth,  no  forces  reached  him,  except 
twenty-five  hundred  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  under 
General  Reynolds,  which  had  arrived  at  Kelly's  Ford,  and  the 
Division  of  General  Kearney,  consisting  of  four  thousandjfive 
hundred  men,  which  had  reached  Warrenton  Junction. 

August  'Zist. — This  morning  the  cannonading  commenced, 


106          THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  JST.  Y.  V. 

and  an  artillery  duel  was  kept  up  most  of  the  day.  To-day 
the  Seventy-sixth  marched  about  a  mile,  and  took  position 
about  fifty  rods  in  rear  of  a  battery.  In  doing  so  it  passed  in 
plain  sight  of  a  rebel  battery,  by  which  it  was  shelled.  Ex 
cept  killing  a  mule,  no  damage  was  done.  This  was  the  first 
fire  under  which  the  Seventy-sixth  was  placed. 

The  next  morning,  the  rebels  having  learned  our  positions 
during  the  night,  from  our  camp  fires,  commenced  a  vigorous 
shelling  as  soon  as  it  was  daylight.  The  position  being 
exposed,  the  Seventy-sixth  was  moved  towards  the  battery,  and 
lay  down  behind  the  ridge  on  which  the  guns  were  planted. 

Immediately  in  front  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  not  forty  rods 
distant,  lay  the  remains  of  two  of  our  sharpshooters,  who  had 
that  morning  given  up  their  loyal  lives  in  defense  of  country. 
Their  bodies  were  horribly  mangled,  and  the  fact  being  known 
that  the  rebels  had  obtained  a  perfect  range  of  the  position, 
driving  off  one  battery,  and  killing  the  men  and  horses  indis 
criminately,  the  introduction  was  anything  but  pleasant. 

Here  sixty  additional  rounds  of  ammunition  were  distrib 
uted,  making  in  all  one  hundred  rounds. 

The  infantry  took  no  active  part  in  the  fight,  except  to  sup 
port  the  batteries,  and  be  ready  at  any  moment  to  arise  and 
meet  the  enemy,  in  case  they  should  silence  the  battery,  and 
attempt  to  effect  a  crossing ;  yet  it  was  not  a  little  exciting  to 
listen  all  day  to  the  whizzing  of  the  balls  and  the  screaming 
of  the  shells  overhead,  while  ever  and  anon  one  of  the  latter 
would  burst  in  mid  air,  scattering  its  fragments  all  too  care 
lessly  among  the  men.  Most  of  the  shot  and  shell,  however, 
passed  over  the  infantry  supports,  and  plowed  the  "  sacred  soil " 
of  the  Old  Dominion  far  to  the  rear. 

Nobody  getting  hurt,  and  a  sense  of  security  gradually 
gaining  upon  the  men,  this  listening  to  the  "  music  in  the  air  " 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  FIKST  UNDER  FIKE.  107 

at  length  became  dull  and  uninteresting,  and  the  troops  thought 
more  of  the  stories  they  were  telling,  and  the  cards  they  were 
playing,  than  of  the  missiles  of  death  upon  the  effects  of 
which  their  enemy  was  reckoning. 

As  we  were  the  assaulted,  and  not  the  assaulting  party,  the 
fact  that  nothing  had  been  accomplished,  but  everything  re 
mained  very  much  at  night  as  it  was  in  the  morning,  in  no 
way  very  seriously  disturbed  the  equanimity  of  the  Union 
army. 

General  McDowell  made  his  appearance  about  nine  A.  M., 
and  ordered  up  fresh  batteries,  which  being  posted,  General 
Doubleday,  assisted  by  his  gallant  brother,  Major  Doubleday, 
took  charge  of  two  pieces,  and  did  much  damage  to  the  ene 
my's  batteries  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 

"  There  are  a  couple  of  pieces  doing  splendid  execution,"  said 
a  staff  officer  riding  hastily  up  from  the  river.  "  What  batte 
ry  is  it  that  possesses  such  superior  gunners  ?" 

"  General  Abner  Doubleday  sighted  those  guns,"  replied  an 
officer. 

"  Oho !  that  accounts  for  the  close  shooting.  Why,  he 
made  one  rebel  battery  shift  position  three  times,  and  finally 
draw  off  entirely !" 

This,  spoken  in  presence  of  the  men,  could  not  fail  to  fill 
them  with  admiration  for  their  General, — a  feeling  to  this  day 
indulged  by  every  remaining  member  of  the  Seventy-sixth. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  higher  in  rank  the  officer,  the  less  ex 
posed  to  danger.  If  the  movement  be  an  advance,  the  colonel 
goes  behind  his  regiment,  the  brigadier-general  behind  his 
brigade,  and  the  major-general  behind  his  division  or  corps. 
This  is  also  the  case  in  battle.  But  on  this  occasion,  when  the 
artillery  and  sharpshooters  were  the  only  men  exposed,  the  in 
fantry  being  shielded  by  the  ridge,  the  hero  of  Fort  Sumter, 


108  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

who  fired  the  first  gun  against  the  rebels  in  this  war,  actually 
went  upon  the  ridge  and  sighted  the  guns  of  the  battery  under 
his  command.  It  is  no  wonder  that  the  man  who  could  thus 
override  custom  to  imperil  his  life  for  the  cause  he  was  serving, 
was  willing  to  blow  up  Fort  Sumter,  without  regard  to  per 
sonal  safety,  rather  than  disgrace  his  country  by  its  surrender. 

This  artillery  duel  was  kept  up  for  three  days,  the  Seventy- 
sixth  occupying  nearly  the  same  position  behind  the  ridge.  No 
men  were  killed  in  the  Kegiment,  though  several  were  more 
or  less  severely  wounded. 

The  first  night  after  crossing  the  river,  a  heavy  shower  had 
rendered  the  ground  wet  and  muddy.  Several  of  the  men  had 
placed  a  rail  upon  the  ground,  with  a  view  of  using  it  as  a 
pillow  to  keep  them  out  of  the  mud.  It  had,  however, 
scarcely  been  dedicated  to  its  intended  use,  when  a  shot  from 
the  enemy's  battery  sent  it  whirling  through  the  air,  wounding 
several  of  the  men,  some  severely.  As  may  well  be  imagined, 
rails  for  pillows  were  soon  dispensed  with  in  that  Regiment. 

Here  was  displayed  the  good  effect  of  that  drill  which  Col 
onel  Wainwright  had  so  strenuously  insisted  upon,  and  which 
in  the  after  history  of  our  Regiment,  gave  it  such  an  enviable 
notoriety. 

Orders  were  given  to  change  the  position  of  the  Regiment 
for  one  farther  up  the  river.  In  doing  so  it  became  necessary 
to  pass  over  a  plain,  within  sight  and  fair  range  of  a  rebel  bat 
tery,  which  fired  a  full  broadside  into  the  Regiment.  The  air 
was  vocal  with  shrieking  shells,  and  the  ground  was  plowed  in 
every  direction  by  the  solid  shot  which  fell  like  rain,  and 
yet,  while  other  regiments  broke  in  disorder,  the  Seventy-sixth 
kept  in  line,  each  officer  and  man  keeping  his  place  as  on  dress 
parade,  following  the  example  of  cool  indifference,  (externally, 


MARCH  TO  WAKKENTON.  109 

at  least),  displayed  by  their  intrepid  Colonel,  who  had  been  in 
battle  before. 

The  enemy  had  now  commenced  a  flank  movement  in  the 
direction  of  Sulphur  Springs,  farther  up  the  Rappahannock. 
General  Pope  had  three  remedies  in  this  dilemma.  First — to 
abandon  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  push  forward  to 
Warren  ton.  Second — to  move  towards  the  base  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  thus  leaving  the  approaches  to  Washington  open  to  the 
enemy.  Third — To  recross  the  Rappahannock  and  fall  upon 
the  rear  of  the  rebel  army  which  was  now  on  its  way  to  Sul 
phur  Springs. 

It  was  finally  decided  to  adopt  the  latter  course,  on  the 
twenty-third.  But  during  the  night  of  the  twenty-second,  a 
heavy  rain  so  raised  the  water  in  the  river  that  the  bridges 
were  carried  away,  and  the  fords  rendered  impassable.  Gene 
ral  Pope  had  learned  from  General  Siegel,  who  commanded 
the  right,  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  part  of  his  forces  at 
Sulphur  Springs  and  Waterloo  Bridge. 

On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third,  General  Pope  massed 
his  forces  near  Rappahannock  Station,  with  the  view  of  falling 
upon  that  portion  of  the  rebel  army  which  had  crossed  the 
river,  and  probably  could  not  recross  in  consequence  of  the 
sudden  rise  of  the  stream.  McDowell's  Corps  was  directed  to 
march  directly  upon  Warrenton,  while  Siegel  proceeded  to 
Sulphur  Springs. 

Early  in  the  morning  the  men  were  quietly  and  quickly 
called  up  to  repel  an  anticipated  charge  of  the  enemy,  who 
were  reported  to  have  forced  the  passage  of  the  river,  and  to 
be  near  at  hand.  This  proved  to  be  a  false  alarm,  but  the 
men  were  kept  under  arms  until  daylight.  At  nine  A.  M., 
the  march  was  taken  up  for  Warrenton. 

When  late  at  night  the  Seventy-sixth  arrived  within  a  mile 


110          THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K.  Y.  Y. 

of  that  place,  it  was  halted  in  the  midst  of  a  shower,  approach 
ing  a  deluge;  Completely  drenched,  and  almost  exhausted 
with  marching  through  Virginia  mud,  averaging  nearly  a  foot 
in  depth,  the  men  sank  down  upon  the  wet  ground,  to  pass  the 
remainder  of  the  night,  but  not  to  sleep. 

•  The  next  morning  the  Division  resumed  its  march,  passing 
through  the  main  streets  of  Warrenton  with  banners  unfurled, 
and  bands  discoursing  loyal  music,  where  the  day  before  the 
rebels  had  taken  a  hasty  leave. 

Passing  about  two  miles  beyond  Warrenton,  the  Regiment 
was  halted  and  went  into  camp.  The  rebels  had  effected  a 
crossing  at  Warrenton  (Sulphur)  Springs,  and  the  hotel  regis 
ters  under  date  of  the  day  before,  exhibited  the  names  of 
many  officers  of  the  rebel  army.  Their  stay  must  have  been 
so  brief  as  scarcely  to  permit  them  to  make  a  very  extended 
acquaintance  with  their  Warrenton  friends  ;  for  on  the  same 
register,  immediately  following  these  names,  were  certain 
other  autographs  to  which  were  annexed  the  significant  letters, 
"U.  S.  A.,"  plainly  indicating  the  rapid  exit  of  the  one,  about 
the  time  of  the  entrance  of  the  other. 

A  rest  of  one  day  and  night  was  here  given  to  the  men,  and 
after  the  excitements  and  marches  of  the  last  two  weeks,  this 
respite  was  warmly  appreciated  by  both  officers  and  men.  The 
troops  had  been  continuously  marching  and  fighting  night  and 
day  for  two  weeks,  and  when  not  fighting,  they  were  in  con 
stant  expectation  of  it.  They  had  enjoyed  very  little  sleep — 
one  day  marching  through  the  scorchings  of  an  August 
sun,  and  at  night  drenched  with  the  severe  storm,  which  com 
pletely  inundated  the  camp  ;  the  next,  marching  through  mud 
nearly  to  the  knee,  and  when  we  add  to  all  this  the  fact  that 
the  men  had  but  little  time  to  properly  prepare  what  scanty 
food  came  to  them  from  the  disorganized,  retreating  commis 
sariat,  we  have  rather  a  disheartening  picture  for  the  young 


FOKAGING.  Ill 

soldier  just  from  a  summer  residence  in  camp  about  Washing 
ton  and  Fredericksburg. 

The  poorer  the  commissariat,  the  more  important  the  for 
aging  order  of  General  Pope.  The  men  had  scarcely  gone 
into  camp,  before  foraging  parties  were  again  in  full  operation. 
Daniel  Carr,  A.  F.  Smith,  B.  F.  Watrous,  and  Wm.  J.  Man- 
tanye,  of  Company  D,  concluded  to  try  their  hands.  General 
McDowell  never  permitted  his  troops  to  draw  rations,  except 
according  to  regulations,  and  the  country  about  "Warrenton 
was  full  of  poultry.  Darkness  had  set  in,  and  the  four  started 
on  their  expedition.  It  was  intensely  dark,  but  after  wander 
ing  about  for  some  time  they  came  to  a  barn,  and  were  not 
long  in  finding  the  hen-roost.  Mantanye  was  to  climb  up  and 
catch  the  fowls  and  hand  them  to  Carr,  while  "Watrous  and 
Smith  stood  guard  at  the  doors  to  notify  of  any  approaches. 
Scarcety  had  Mantanye  seized  a  hen,  when  his  foot  slipped  and 
he  fell  upon  a  pile  of  loose  boards,  setting  the  poultry  in  a 
cackle,  to  which  the  watch-dog  added  a  chorus.  Smith  soon 
notified  the  others  of  an  approach,  when,  with  one  hen,  they 
beat  a  hasty  retreat. 

Not  satisfied  with  the  result,  and  seeing  a  light  in  the  dis 
tance,  they  traveled  in  that  direction.  On  nearing  the  house 
they  found  the  door  and  windows  open,  and  the  fowls  in  a  tree 
about  two  rods  from,  and  nearly  in  front  of  the  door,  and  the 
family  engaged  in  a  chat  with  a  neighbor.  An  empty  stom 
ach  gives  a  person  great  courage.  Seizing  a  pole,  Carr  struck 
a  limb,  and  down  fell  two  or  three  chickens,  which  fortunately 
failed  to  give  an  alarm.  The  house  stood  about  two  feet  from 
the  ground  upon  stone  abutments.  The  chickens  ran  under 
the  house.  Now  came  the  test  of  courage  ;  but  Carr,  resolved 
on  succeding,  crawled  under  the  house  and  soon  returned  with 
two  ducks.  Looking  into  the  door  to  assure  themselves  that 
their  "  secesh  "  donor  was  properly  entertaining  his  neighbor, 


112          THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGDIENT  N.  Y.  V. 

the  boys  returned  to  camp  well  satisfied  with  the  addition  to 
their  scanty  rations. 

Numerous  incidents  have  been  related  to  me,  detailing  the 
different  methods  in  which  General  Pope's  order  was  carried 
out.  Unless  the  forage  was  seized  in  the  night,  unbeknown  to 
the  owner,  the  soldiers  were  generally  met  by  entreaties,  at 
tended  with  protestations  of  loyalty  to  the  Federal  Government, 
to  spare  the  little  the  rebels  had  left.  In  some  cases,  these 
stories  of  destitution  told  by  the  rebels,  were  believed;  but 
after  a  time,  the  soldiers  found  these  pleas  and  prayers  to  be 
only  a  ruse  to  further  the  safety  of  property  and  provisions 
hidden  in  out-of-the-way  places,  for  preservation  against  the 
"  Yankee  thieves." 


CHAPTER    X. 

BATTLE  OF  WARRENTON  SPRINGS— THE  LADY  AND  FALSE  FLAG  OP  TRUCE— RETREAT 
ING  AT  DOUBLE  QUICK— REINFORCEMENTS  PROMISED  BUT  NOT  RECEIVED— BATTLE 
IMMINENT— FIRE  UPON  THE  AMBULANCES— DR.  METCALFE  INDUCES  BRAVERY  IN  A 
TEAMSTER— BATTLE  OF  GAINESVILLE— TERRIBLE  SLAUGHTER— INSTANCES  OF  BRAVERY 
—RETREAT  OF  OUR  ARMY— SUFFERINGS  OF  OUR  WOUNDED  PRISONERS— FEASTING 
AND  RESTING  ARB  SUDDENLY  TERMINATED  IN  THE  ARMY. 

ONLY  twenty-four  hours  were  given  for  rest,  before  (August 
twenty-sixth),  the  order  came  to  march  to  Sulphur  Springs, 
about  seven  miles  distant,  with  two  days'  rations  and  an  extra 
supply  of  ammunition. 

General  Siegel  had  had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  that 
point,  and  the  column  had  not  proceeded  more  than  a  mile 
when  heavy  cannonading  was  heard  in  that  direction,  and  all 
now  expected  something  beside  a  protected  support  of  bat 
teries. 

Through  picturesque  scenery,  too  beautiful  for  the  destruct 
ive  car  of  war,  onward  rushed  the  column,  to  find  on  its 
arrival,  that,  with  the  exception  of  skirmishing  parties,  the 
enemy  had  again  placed  the  Rappahannock  between  him  and 
the  Union  army. 

As  the  column  neared  the  artillery  duel  being  carried  on, 
the  bursting  shells,  with  their  wreaths  of  smoke,  were  plainly 
visible,  and  their  unearthly  screams  could  be  distinctly  heard 
as  they  rent  their  way  through  the  air. 
H 


114  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

The  different  Brigades  were  turned  from  the  road  into  the 
fields,  and  so  disposed  as  to  secure,  as  far  as  practicable,  the 
safety  of  the  troops,  and  yet  be  in  a  position,  in  case  the  bat 
teries  proved  insufficient,  to  aid  in  preventing  any  attempted 
crossing  of  the  river. 

Here  the  Seventy-sixth  witnessed  one  of  those  dodges  which, 
all  through  the  war,  the  enemy  invariably  employed  to  save 
himself  from  capture  or  destruction.  A  company  of  rebel 
skirmishers  had  become  so  hemmed  in  by  our  troops  that  they 
could  neither  fight  their  way  out  nor  retreat  without  the  risk 
of  capture  or  destruction.  They  accordingly  started  the  white 
flag  of  truce  towards  our  men,  accompanied  by  a  lady.  Of 
course  firing  on  our  part  was  discontinued  until  the  occasion 
of  sending  the  flag  was  ascertained ;  but  no  sooner  had  the 
firing  ceased  than  the  skirmishers  started  off  on  a  brisk  double- 

o 

quick,  and  were  soon  out  of  range  of  our  angry  men,  not, 
however,  without  a  parting  salute. 

All  day  and  into  night  was  this  artillery  fighting  kept  up. 
Major  Doubleday,  brother  to  the  General,  stood  in  full  view  of 
the  rebel  battery,  with  his  glass,  noting  the  effect  of  the  firing, 
and,  by  the  motion  of  his  hand,  causing  our  pieces  to  be  ele 
vated  or  depressed,  as  our  shot  and  shell  over-reached  or  fell 
short  of  the  enemy,  until  they  were  sent  with  such  precision 
that  they  fell  directly  among  the  enemy's  batteries,  many  of 
the  guns  of  which  were  silenced. 

o 

Most  of  the  enemy's  shots  were  fired  at  sucli  a  range  as  to 
pass  harmlessly  over  the  heads  of  the  Union  army — not  only 
the  batteries,  but  also  their  infantry  supports,  with  scarcely 
enough  of  danger  to  make  the  position  interesting.  None  of 
our  Regiment  were  killed,  and  but  two  or  three  wounded. 

The  next  morning  (twenty-seventh)  came  the  order  to  "right 
about  face,"  and  off  went  the  column  through  Warrenton, 


GENERAL  POPE  DISAPPOINTED.  115 

almost  on  a  run,  and  still  on,  on  swept  the  regiments  until 
late  at  night,  when  they  were  halted  beyond  New  Baltimore. 

General  Pope  had,  on  the  twenty-second,  received  a  dispatch 
from  the  General-in-Chief,  informing  him  that  heavy  reinforce 
ments  would  begin  to  arrive  at  Warrenton  Junction  the 
succeeding  day ;  and  on  the  twenty-fourth  he  [received  dis 
patches  from  Colonel  Ilaupt,  the  Eailroad  Superintendent,  at 
Alexandria,  informing  him  that  thirty  thousand  men  ordered 
forward  to  join  General  Pope,  had  demanded  transportation  of 
the  Superintendent,  and  that  they  would  all  be  shipped  that 
afternoon  or  early  the  next  morning. 

The  force  which  General  Pope  thus  expected  consisted  of 
the  Division  of  General  Sturgis,  ten  thousand  strong;  the 
Division  of  General  Cox,  seven  thousand  strong ;  the  Corps 
of  General  Heintzelman,  ten  thousand  strong,  and  the  Corps 
of  General  Franklin,  ten  thousand  strong. 

General  Pope  disposed  his  troops  with  the  expectation  that 
these  promises  would  be  kept ;  but  we  shall  have  occasion  to 
record  with  regret  the  shameless  abandonment  of  the  gallant 
Army  of  Virginia,  in  its  extremity,  by  the  very  General  whose 
army  was  saved  from  destruction  by  the  advance  of  the  army 
thus  abandoned. 

When  the  impartial  history  of  this  war  is  written,  the  Com 
manding  General  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  who  quietly 
sat  down  in  Alexandria,  while  the  gallant  Pope,  with  his  tried 
but  heroic  troops  were  being  cut  to  pieces  by  the  overwhelm 
ing  rebel  hosts,  will  receive  at  the  hands  of  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty  a  condemnation  equal  in  bitterness  to  that  which  an 
outraged  people  have  already  pronounced  upon  him  at  the 
ballot-box. 

Up  to  this  time  the  men  had  been  induced  to  believe  that 
the  enemy  was  being  hemmed  in,  and  this  idea  was  entertained 


116  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  BEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

by  officers  high  in  command ;  but  now,  as  the  retreat  became 
more  marked  and  rapid,  all  sorts  of  rumors  of  disasters  threat 
ened  and  partially  realized,  found  credence  in  camp — as  that 
Lee's  forces  had  cut  them  off,  and  that  General  was  with  a 
large  army  between  them  and  Washington;  then,  that  the 
comparatively  small  army  of  General  Pope  was  lost,  and  the 
first  contact  with  the  enemy  would  surely  overwhelm  it.  In 
the  language  of  the  Captain  of  Company  II  :— 

"  Things  did  look  bad ;  in  fact  there  seemed  to  be  great 
doubts  in  the  minds  of  the  leading  officers  what  we  ought  to 
do.  The  very  air  seemed  to  whisper,  i  danger !  danger !": 

The  march  towards  "Washington  was  renewed  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  twenty-eighth.  At  noon  a  halt  of  two  or  three 
hours,  near  a  little  creek  that  crossed  the  road,  enabled  the 
men  to  rest  and  make  coffee.  Here  were  found  four  dead  and 
mortally  wounded  soldiers,  belonging  to  a  preceding  regiment, 
killed  by  a  rebel  shell  which  had  exploded  as  it  dropped  into 
the  regiment.  This  added  to  rumor  indubitable  evidence  that 
the  enemy  was  near,  and  had  sent  a  messenger  to  apprise  them 
of  the  fact. 

As  the  Brigade  again  took  up  its  line  of  march,  evidences 
were  multiplied  that  things  were  coming  to  a  crisis.  Con 
stant  cannonading  was  heard  in  different  directions ;  squads  of 
cavalry  rode  furiously  through  the  cross-roads  and  fields,  while 
the  smoke  of  battle  could  be  seen  rising  in  ominous  clouds  in 
the  distance.  These  scenes  were  sufficiently  exciting  for  the 
most  fastidious. 

After  passing  Gainesville  a  mile  or  two,  as  the  Brigade,  and 
more  particularly  that  part  formed  by  the  Seventy-sixth,  was 
moving  over  a  level  tract  of  half  a  mile  in  extent,  with  a 
wood  in  their  front,  and  a  hill  at  their  left,  they  were  nearly 
paralyzed  for  a  moment  by  a  terrible  discharge  of  artillery 


BBAVEEY  OP  COLONEL  WAIN  WEIGHT.  117 

from  the  hill  on  their  left,  and  so  near  that  the  flash  from  the 
guns  dazzled  their  eyes.  Not  the  most  interesting  feature  of 
the  position,  was  the  fact  that  this  was  a  rebel  battery,  which  had 
not  until  that  moment  been  discovered.  Self-preservation  is 
the  first  law  of  the  nature  of  heroes  as  well  as  cowards  ;  and 
the  first  impulse  on  this  sudden  introduction  to  the  minions  of 
Jefferson  Davis,  was  to  obey  the  injunction,  "  every  man  for 
himself."  Some  dropped  down ;  others  rushed  forward  upon 
those  in  advance,  while  others  still  were  inclined  to  turn  back. 
Never  was  the  example  of  a  cool  and  courageous  man  more 
opportunely  set,  than  by  Colonel  Wainwright  at  this  critical 
juncture.  Riding  at  the  head  of  his  Regiment,  he  instantly 
turned  his  horse,  and  coolly  riding  back  toward  the  rear  of  the 
column,  between  it  and  the  batteries,  as  well  by  his  easy  and 
unconcerned  manner,  as  by  his  words,  allayed  the  excitement, 
and  brought  every  man  to  his  place. 

"  Oh,  my  boys,  don't  run,  don't  run.  Think  a  moment  how 
it  would  sound  to  say,  '  the  Seventy-sixth  ran !' ' 

No  pen  can  describe  the  magic  effect  of  those  few  words, 
and  that  collected  self-possession.  The  tone  and  manner  were 
more  potent  even  than  the  words.  Quietly  turning  his  horse, 
he  allowed  him  to  almost  walk  toward  the  head  of  the  column  ; 
and,  although  the  shells  came  thicker  and  faster,  and  with  a 
more  dangerous  and  destructive  aim,  the  men  kept  steadily  on 
until  the  wood  was  reached,  and  they  in  comparative  security. 
Several  horses  were  killed,  but  the  men  escaped  as  by  a  mira 
cle. 

As  the  rebels  opened  this  fire  upon  our  Regiment,  a  shell 
passed  through  the  ambulance  train,  causing  great  consterna 
tion  among  the  drivers  and  teamsters.  The  ambulances  were 
immediately  ordered  to  the  rear.  Just  as  they  were  wheeling 
for  that  purpose,  a  frightened  teamster  on  a  baggage  wagon 
put  his  whip  to  his  horses  in  the  act  of  forcing  his  way  up  the 


118  THE  SEVENTY-BIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

narrow  road,  without  regard  to  ambulance  loads  of  sick  and 
wounded.  Surgeon  Metcalfe,  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  realizing 
the  danger  from  such  conduct  in  the  crowded  highway,  quickly 
drew  his  pistol,  and  in  his  convincing  style,  informed  the 
driver  if  he  moved  another  inch  he  would  end  his  fears.  This 
had  its  desired  effect.  The  teamster,  finding  himself  be 
tween  two  fires,  concluded  to  take  the  chances  of  the  most 
remote,  and  thus  a  panic  was  avoided. 

But  a  few  moments  elapsed  after  entering  the  wood,  before 
sharp  and  continuous  musketry  firing  was  heard  very  near, 
and  up  the  hill  hidden  by  the  woods. 

A  strange  mounted  officer  came  riding  down  through  the 
woods,  shouting — 

"  Come  on  !     Come  on  !     Quick  !     Quick  !" 

The  Seventy-sixth  was  immediately  in  motion — over  fences, 
through  the  bushes,  around  the  trees,  over  logs — the  bullets 
and  shells  tearing  through  the  woods  like  a  hail  storm 
through  a  wheat  field,  on  rushed  the  Regiment.  Several  of 
the  men  were  killed  and  wounded  before  leaving  the  wood. 

After  going  about  twenty  rods,  the  Regiment  emerged  into 
an  open  field.  Here  was  battle  in  real  earnest.  Just  in  front 
and  a  little  to  the  left  were  the  gallant  boys  of  the  "  Iron 
Brigade,"  (composed  of  three  Wisconsin  and  one  Michigan 
regiments),  fighting  and  falling  in  a  manner  terrible  to  behold. 

Just  at  this  juncture,  as  the  rebels  were  preparing  in  great 
numbers  in  the  woods  beyond,  for  a  charge  upon  our  lines, 
the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  and  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania 
were  ordered  into  line  to  fill  a  gap  between  the  Sixth  and  Sev 
enth  Wisconsin.  By  this  timely  movement,  the  noble  "  Iron 
Brigade  "  was  saved  from  total  annihilation. 

This  movement  not  only  saved  this  Brigade,  but  was  the 
commencement  of  a  friendship  between  the  Seventy-sixth  and 
the  Wisconsin  regiments,  which  was  never  forgotton  by  either 


INSTANCE  OF  BE  AVERT.  119 

party.  This  timely  aid  was  reciprocated  at  South  Mountain, 
when  the  Seventy-sixth  was  saved  by  similar  assistance  on  the 
part  of  these  same  Wisconsin  men. 

On  coming  near  the  enemy,  Colonel  Wainwright  thought  it 
prudent  to  deploy  a  few  files  as  skirmishers,  a  most  dangerous 
duty,  when  the  enemy  were  known  to  be  so  near.  lie  called 
up  Captain  Grover,  of  Company  A,  whom  he  supposed  well 
fitted  for  the  duty,  and  told  him  what  he  wanted.  How  well 
and  nobly  it  was  performed  was  evidenced  by  several  wounds 
received  on  that  occasion,  from  one  of  which,  in  the  chest,  it 
was  supposed  he  would  never  recover. 

Captain  Grover  ordered  out  a  file  of  eight  men,  as  follows  : 
—Whitney,  Knapp,  Fox,  John  W.  Seeber,  Kipley,  Moore, 
Marvin  Mynard,  and  Norman  Mynard.  These  skirmishers 
moved  promptly  to  the  front  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the 
enemy.  It  had  now  begun  to  be  dark.  The  skirmishers  hav 
ing  reached  a  rail  fence  about  ten  rods  in  front  of  the  main 
line,  were  within  plain  hearing  of  the  enemy  in  the  edge  of 
the  wood.  They  distinctly  heard  the  orders  given,  and,  at  the 
risk  of  their  lives,  communicated  as  fast  as  they  heard  to  Gen 
eral  Doubleday,  which  enabled  him  to  properly  understand  the 
enemy's  intentions.  Nor  was  this  the  only  service  performed 
by  the  skirmishers.  Lying  upon  the  ground  they  fired  volley 
after  volley  into  the  rebel  ranks,  thus  drawing  their  fire  from 
our  line,  and  thwarting  their  design  to  make  a  charge  upon 
and  break  it. 

During  a  lull  in  the  action,  a  body  of  men  was  seen  moving 
on  the  extreme  left  flank.  As  they  came  forward  they 
shouted, — 

"  Don't  shoot  your  own  men !" 

At  that  distance  it  seemed  doubtful  whether  they  were 
friends  or  enemies,  and  it  was  not  without  mucji  hesitation 


120  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

that  the  Colonel  gave  the  order,  "  By  the  left  oblique !     Aim ! 
Fire !" 

No  rebel  of  that  column  who  escaped  death,  will  ever  forget 
that  volley.  It  seemed  like  one  gun.  So  well  was  it  directed 
by  our  men,  as  could  be  judged  by  the  immediate  results,  that 
there  can  be  no  doubt  it  very  materially  contributed  to  the 
repulse  of  this  attempted  flank  attack. 

The  Regiment  had  been  thoroughly  drilled  in  firing  and 
target  practice,  and  it  seemed  as  though  every  man  took 
deadly  aim,  and  brought  down  one  or  more  of  the  enemy. 

When  the  smoke  cleared  away  a  little,  the  few  left  of  that 
mass  of  human  beings  who  had  so  rapidly  left  the  woods  a 
few  moments  before,  had  disappeared,  but  the  ground  was  lit 
erally  covered  with  their  dead  and  wounded. 

Here  the  rebel  General  Ewell  lost  his  leg,  and,  as  he  con 
templates  that  battle  in  the  future,  he  will  have  detached  from 
his  person  the  best  of  evidence  of  his  contiguity,  on  that 
occasion,  to  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York. 

During  the  fight,  the  skirmishers  under  Captain  Grover 
were  placed  in  a  sad  plight. 

While  drawing  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  which,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  and  considering  the  short  distance  between  them 
and  the  enemy,  was  about  as  much  as  could  well  be  relished, 
our  men  on  the  right  of  the  line  opened  upon  the  enemy,  thus 
placing  the  skirmishers  between  the  two  fires.  Corporal, 
(afterwards  Lieutenant,)  Whitney  undertook  the  dangerous 
task  of  notifying  Colonel  Wainwright  of  the  condition,  when 
the  firing  on  the  right  was  ordered  to  cease.  Captain  Grover 
and  two  of  the  skirmishers  were  wounded. 

Before  the  firing  ceased  it  had  become  quite  dark,  and  the 
officers  hardly  knew  how  to  communicate  with  the  remainder 
of  the  Brigade.  On  calling  for  some  one  who  would  under 
take  the  dangerous  duty,  (for  they  were  within  a  very  short 


HONOKABLE  MENTION.  121 

distance  of  the  enemy,  and  might  stumble  upon  him  anywhere) 
of  ascertaining  where  they  were,  Corporal,  (afterwards  Cap 
tain)  Bartholomew,  of  Company  C,  and  private  Redmond,  of 
Company  I,  promptly  and  coolly  stepped  forward  and  tendered 
their  services. 

Bartholomew  was  afterwards  killed  in  battle,  at  the  Wilder 
ness,  May  fifth,  1864.  Private  Redmond  was  an  old  soldier, 
having  served  twelve  years  in  the  English  army,  and  been 
present  at  the  attack  upon  Sebastopol  during  the  Crimean 
war ;  a  man  who,  though  from  want  of  education  unfitted  for 
the  position  of  an  officer,  was,  on  several  other  occasions  con 
spicuous  for  his  bravery.  ~No  one  connected  with  the  Seventy- 
sixth  will  ever  forget  Thomas  Redmond,  or  his  wife  Ann,  who 
was  ever  with  him,  on  all  occasions,  marching  by  his  side, 
and  sharing  all  his  joys  and  sorrows,  and  by  her  lively  conver 
sation,  helping  to  drive  away  many  a  gloomy  reflection 
incident  to  the  life  of  a  soldier.  Though  Ann  did  not  shoul 
der  a  musket,  she  should  be  set  down  as  much  more  useful  to 
the  army  than  many  a  one  who  did.  Could  clothing  speak, 
many  a  blood-stained  garment  would  testify  to  Ann's  industry, 
as  day  after  day  she  labored  over  her  half-barrel  wash-tub  to 
keep  the  Seventy-sixth  comfortably  clean. 

When  we  begin  to  particularize  in  such  a  Regiment  as  the 
Seventy-sixth",  we  run  great  risk  of  neglecting  very  many  as 
meritorious  as  those  we  mention  ;  and  let  it  be  distinctly  under 
stood  that  whenever,  in  the  progress  of  this  work,  honorable 
mention  of  names  is  made,  it  is  not  done  with  any  intention  of 
making  a  comparison  favorable  to  one  man  or  unfavorable 
to  another ;  but  such  cases  of  meritorious  conduct  are  men 
tioned  as  have  been  related  to  me  by  those  who  were  present. 
And  if  any  errors  appear  in  this  book,  as  there  undoubtedly 
will,  they  are  errors  of  my  informants,  and  not  of  my  own  ; 
for  the  facts  are  written  as  they  come  to  me  from  a  multitude 
of  sources. 


122  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEQIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

I  give  a  few  instances  of  heroism  in  tins,  the  first  real  battle 
in  which  the  Seventy-sixth  was  engaged — give  them  as  sam 
ples  : — 

In  the  early  part  of  the  fight,  "William  H.  Miller,  a  private 
of  Company  H,  was  wounded  through  the  foot.  lie  refused 
to  be  carried  off  the  field,  though  unable  to  stand ;  but  lay 
upon  the  ground  loading  and  firing  until  darkness  closed  the 
scene. 

John  L.  "Wood,  a  private  in  Company  C,  and  not  quite 
eighteen  years  of  age,  had  his  thumb  shot  off,  but  continued 
firing  until  he  received  a  mortal  wound  in  the  shoulder. 

Daniel  McGregor,  of  Company  C,  received  a  wound  in  his 
thigh,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died.  Yet  he  continued  to 
load  and  fire,  resting  on  the  other  knee,  until  from  loss  of 
blood  he  was  unable  to  hold  his  gun.  Though  wounded  in 
the  early  part  of  the  battle,  he  fired  thirty-three  rounds. 

Sergeant  Lawrence  M.  Banker,  Company  F,  fell  mortally 
wounded.  On  hearing  of  the  casualty,  his  brother  Isaac,  of 
the  same  Company,  obtained  permission  of  Colonel  "Wain- 
wright  to  see  him.  The  two  brothers  had  scarcely  met — the 
last  sad  meeting — when  the  bugle  sounded,  denoting  some  new 
crisis  in  the  battle.  "  Leave  me  and  rush  to  the  front !" 
shouted  the  dying  Sergeant,  and  two  hours  later  his  voice  on 
earth  was  silenced ! 

Thomas  II.  Hoffman,  of  Company  F,  was  mortally  wounded. 
As  he  lay  covered  with  blood,  Captain  Barnard  called  to  see 
him.  As  he  recognized  the  Captain,  Hoffman-,  bringing  up 
his  hand,  exclaimed : — "  Captain,  if  I  ever  get  over  this,  won't 
I  give  it  to  them  though  ?"  Brave  boy  !  He  never  lived  to 
perform  the  coveted  duty. 

Albert  Olin,  of  Company  G,  wounded  in  the  arm,  contin 
ued  firing  until  disabled  by  another  shot  in  the  shoulder. 

James  J.  Card,   of  Company   F,  although  covered  with 


LOSSES  OF  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH.  123 

blood  from  a  wound  in  the  head,  continued  to  fire  until  he  re 
ceived  another  ball  in  the  arm,  making  a  further  continuance 
impossible. 

Darkness,  and  the  sudden  and  timely  repulse  spoken  of 
above,  soon  put  an  end  to  the  battle  of  Gainesville.  There 
seems  to  have  been  a  studied  effort  to  make  this  battle  a  mere 
skirmish — possibly  to  cover  a  defect  in  the  military  skill  of 
our  division  commander ;  but  time,  which  at  length  reveals 
history  in  its  true  light,  will  yet  write  it  down  as  an  important 
battle,  in  which  a  small  force,  in  its  first  experience,  stood 
up  coolly  and  bravely  against  the  flower  of  the  rebel  army. 

The  Seventy-sixth  went  into  this  fight  with  one  hundred  and 
twelve  files,  or  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  men,  and  some 
idea  of  the  strugle  of  an  hour  may  be  gathered  from  the  num 
ber  of  casualties.  There  were  ten  killed,  seventy-two  wounded, 
and  eighteen  missing.  Five  officers,  four  of  whom  were  cap 
tains,  were  wounded.  Most  of  the  wounded  were  prevented 
from  ever  taking  the  field  again. 

We  have  mentioned  Captain  Grover,  who  fell  on  this  occa 
sion. 

Captain  Fox,  of  Company  B,  a  most  excellent  officer,  was 
severely  wounded  by  a  ball  in  the  lungs,  from  which  it  is 
feared  he  will  never  fully  recover.  His  men  fairly  worshiped 
him,  and  his  fall  caused  some  confusion  on  the  left,  occupied 
by  his  company ;  but  they  were  immediately  rallied  by  Major 
Livingston,  and  remained  steady  throughout  the  remainder  of 
the  battle. 

Captain  Sager,  of  Company  G,  while  bravely  leading  his 
men,  received  a  terribly  severe  wound,  the  ball  passing  entirely 
through  his  body.  He  was  also  wounded  in  the  ankle.  His 
life  was  for  a  long  time  despaired  of;  but  he  finally  partially 
recovered — never,  however,  to  join  his  Eegiment  for  duty. 


124  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Captain  Swan,  of  Company  II,  was  also  wounded,  but  re 
mained  with  the  Regiment. 

All  the  officers  on  this  occasion  displayed  remarkable  cool 
ness,  under  a  severe  test,  and,  in  the  language  of  Colonel 
Wainwright  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  u  I  cannot  too  much 
praise  the  men  who  supplied  want  of  previous  military  prepa 
ration  by  their  own  nerve  and  resolution." 

When  it  became  too  dark  longer  to  continue  the  battle,  the 
Regiment  withdrew  in  perfect  order ;  and  the  rebels,  having 
become  satiated  with  their  communings  with  the  Seventy-sixth, 
also  retreated  during  the  night. 

As  soon  as  the  battle  was  over,  a  detail  was  sent  out  to  bring 
off  the  wounded.  Before  they  had  completed  the  task,  the 
rebel  skirmishers  opened  fire  upon  them  and  drove  them  away. 
It  being  dark,  several  brought  lanterns  with  them  to  aid  in 
finding  and  identifying  the  wounded  ;  but  with  skirmishers  in 
close  proximity,  it  became  necessary  to  dispense  with  so  good 
a  mark,  and  find  the  wounded  as  best  they  might  in  the  dark 
ness. 

The  wounded  were  taken  to  a  hospital  established  about  a 
hundred  rods  in  rear  of  the  battle-field.  When  our  army, 
during  the  night,  retreated,  they  took  all  the  wounded  with 
them  that  could  be  carried  in  their  ambulances,  but  were 
obliged  to  abandon  quite  a  number.  In  the  morning  the  rebel 
skirmish  line  advanced  and  took  prisoners  those  thus  aban 
doned. 

As  soon  as  the  rebels  discovered  that  our  troops  had  fallen 
back  from  the  line  they  had  held  so  stubbornly  the  night  be 
fore,  they  made  a  general  advance.  All  day  the  troops  poured 
past  in  a  continual  stream. 

In  one  hospital  thus  captured,  were  about  twenty  of  the 
men  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  most  of  them  severely  wounded. 
This  day,  (twenty-ninth),  they  were  placed  in  an  unpleasant 


SUFFERINGS  OF  OUR  WOUNDED.  125 

position.  The  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  raging  so  near  that  the 
shells  from  our  own  guns  fell  among  these  wounded  men.  At 
one  time  a  line  of  our  skirmishers  passed  through  the  woods 
within  ten  rods  of  our  wounded  boys,  but  with  no  power  to 
render  them  assistance.  Both  lines  kept  up  a  continuous  fire, 
but  fortunately  the  wounded  escaped  any  further  injuries. 

Eli  E.  Peck,  of  Company  B,  was  severely  wounded,  the  ball 
passing  nearly  through  his  body  at  the  hips.  In  the  course  of 
the  afternoon,  two  surgeons,  one  belonging  to  the  "  Iron 
Brigade,"  and  one  a  rebel  surgeon,  came  to  him  and  com 
menced  searching  for  the  ball.  They  found  it  necessary  to 
extract  it — a  most  painful  operation,  now  that  nearly  twenty- 
four  hours  had  elapsed  since  the  wound  was  made.  They  had 
no  chloroform,  and  it  was  important  that  he  should  remain 
perfectly  quiet.  They  told  him  to  show  himself  a  man  by 
holding  still,  and  if  clenching  the  teeth  and  remaining  stoical, 
while  your  devoted  self  is  being  cut  and  mangled  by  the  sur 
geon's  knife,  is  an  evidence  of  manhood,  Eli  E.  Peck  is  a  model 
man. 

"  Take  that,"  said  the  surgeon,  handing  him  a  large-sized 
spherical  ball,  bruised  by  his  own  bones, "  and  show  your 
sweetheart."  Peck  carries  the  ball  to  this  day,  as  a  memento 
of  Gainesville. 

Friday,  Saturday,  Sunday  and  Monday  were  passed  by  our 
wounded  men  without  a  mouthful  of  food.  Most  of  them  were 
severely  wounded,  and  yet,  though  burning  with  fever,  no 
water  was  given  them.  Friday  and  Saturday  they  heard  dis 
tinctly  the  roar  and  rattle  of  the  second  Bull  Run  battle.  Sun 
day  they  heard  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  farther  in  the  distance, 
and  as  the  sound  receded,  came  the  unpleasant  reflection  that 
our  army  was  retreating,  and  they  who  had  fallen  were  being 
left  to  die  of  thirst  and  starvation  in  the  hands  of  their 
enemies. 


126  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

To  add  to  their  miseries,  the  rebels  stole  everything  not  ab 
solutely  a  fixture  to  the  body  of  a  live  soldier.  No  sooner  did 
a  soldier  die  than  they  stripped  him  of  his  clothing.  "While 
one  of  our  surgeons  was  performing  an  operation  upon  a  rebel, 
they  stole  several  of  his  instruments. 

Among  the  dead  at  the  hospital  was  Colonel  O'Connor  of 
the  Second  "Wisconsin.  Soon  after  his  Eegiment  became  en 
gaged  he  had  received  a  severe  wound,  but  refused  to  leave 
the  field.  He  was  killed  shortly  after,  and  taken  to  the 
hospital  and  placed  upon  a  stretcher.  While  lying  there,  the 
rebels  relieved  him  of  his  boots,  and,  though  they  were  too 
small  for  any  one  present,  they  had  a  quarrel  as  to  who  should 
own  the  prize. 

On  Sunday,  September  first,  Edward  Kelley,  of  Company 
E,  was  brought  to  the  hospital  from  the  battle-field,  having 
lain  there  since  Thursday  night,  without  a  mouthful  to  eat  or 
a  drop  of  water  to  quench  his  thirst  or  cool  the  fever  of  his 
wound,  and  to  add  to  his  horrors,  he  had  been  compelled  to  lie 
in  the  rays  of  a  scorching  sun,  unable  to  remove  to  the  shade. 
As  he  thought  of  his  loving  wife  and  six  small  children  at 
home,  depending  upon  him,  who  wras  now  dying  of  thirst, 
hunger,  fever,  a  painful  wound,  and  the  scorching  sun,  in  rebel 
hands,  with  balls  falling,  and  shells  bursting  around  him,  his 
patriotism  was  put  to  a  severe  test.  The  surgeon,  on  exam 
ining  his  wound,  and  finding  the  bone  broken,  decided  that 
the  amputation  of  his  leg  was  necessary.  Those  who  wit 
nessed  the  utter  prostration  of  his  very  spirit  at  this 
announcement,  will  not  soon  forget  it. 

"  How  can  I  support  my  wife  and  six  little  children  when 
thus  crippled  ?"  the  patriot  had  only  strength  to  ejaculate. 

His  leg  was  amputated,  and  a  short  time  after,  burning  with 
fever,  and  talking  of  his  family,  the  spirit  of  the  hero  departed. 


PAKOLE  OF  OUR  WOUNDED  PRISONERS.  127 

and  his  family  was  cast  upon  the  cold  charities  of  the  country 
he  had  died  to  save  ! 

The  condition  of  these  wounded  heroes  will  be  better  ap 
preciated,  perhaps,  when  it  is  stated  that  on  the  fifth  day  after 
the  battle,  Sergeant  Wildman,  who  was  severely  wounded, 
succeeded  in  procuring  a  small  piece  of  meat,  which,  having 
become  tainted,  had  been  thrown  away  by  the  rebels.  This, 
with  the  generosity  of  a  true  soldier,  he  divided  among  his 
companions,  and  they  devoured  it  with  much  better  relish  than 
in  better  days  they  would  have  eaten  of  the  choicest  viands. 

To  add  to  their  tortures,  on  Monday  it  rained  severely,  and, 
having  no  tents  or  other  covering  except  the  bushes,  these  men 
were  exposed  all  through  that  long  night  to  a  drenching  storm. 

At  length,  on  Wednesday  morning,  the  pleasant  announce 
ment  was  made,  that  all  who  could  walk  might  start  for 
Centreville,  where  they  would  be  paroled.  Peck,  and  several 
others,  were  unable  to  walk ;  but  every  one  who  could  was 
soon  in  line  and  on  his  way  North. 

The  rebels  had  often  been  requested  by  the  prisoners  to  fur 
nish  them  something  to  prevent  actual  starvation,  but  were 
answered  that  they  had  nothing  for  their  own  men.  It  is  not, 
therefore,  to  be  wondered  at,  that  every  one  who  could  possi 
bly  get  along  by  aid  of  sticks,  or  otherwise,  joined  the  company. 
One  man,  wounded  so  that  he  could  not  touch  his  foot  to  the 
ground,  hobbled  along.  Another,  Wm.  H.  Eipley,  of  Com 
pany  K,  shot  through  the  arm,  marched  all  day,  though  his 
arm  was  amputated  on  arriving  at  Washington. 

It  was  a  sad-looking  company,  and  their  spirits  were  only 
kept  alive  by  the  contemplation  of  the  fact  that  they  were 
marching  towards  Washington  instead  of  Eichmond. 

On  their  way  to  Centreville  they  passed  the  battle-field  of 
Bull  Eun,  where,  in  one  place,  on  less  than  half  an  acre,  ninety 


128  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

of  our  dead  heroes  still  lay  unburied,  having  been  stripped  of 
their  clothing  by  the  rebels.  There  is  no  good  reason  to  sup 
pose  that  the  enemy  were  compelled  by  necessity  to  commit 
this  barbarous  outrage  upon  our  dead  ;  and  no  other  excuse  in 
the  least  plausible  could  be  made  for  such  a  brutal  act.  And 
an  endless  amount  of  undeniable  evidence  exists  to  prove  that 
they  persisted  in  the  practice  all  through  the  war — often  not 
waiting  for  death  to  seal  the  remonstrating  lips  of  the  suf 
ferers,  before  stripping  them  of  every  garment  upon  their 
bodies ;  and  instances,  the  truth  of  which  cannot  be  doubted, 
are  furnished,  where  wounded  men,  offering  a  feeble  resistance 
to  these  robberies,  were  murdered  in  cold  blood. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

FIGHTING  RENEWED— SECOND  BATTLE  OF  BULL  RUN—"  FOLLOWING  A  RETREATING  FOE," 
AND  WHAT  CAMB  OP  IT— "DON'T  FIRB  ON  YOUR  FRIENDS  "—MAJOR  LIVINGSTON  RAL 
LIES  THE  SECOND  MISSISSIPPI — THE  COLORS  OF  THE  SEVETY-SIXTH — "CONFUSION 
WORSE  CONFOUNDED  "—DEATH  OF  LIEUTENANT  WILLIAMS— BETWEEN  Two  FIRES— 
"  BE  QUIET,  MEN!  GOD  WILL  DO  WITH  Us  AS  HE  WILL"— WADING  THROUGH  THE 
MUD— TERRIBLE  NIGHT  DUTJT— THE  REGIMENT  REACHES  UPTON  HILL— FORGIVING 
SPIRIT  OF  MR.  LINCOLN. 

Friday,  Aug.  %$th. — Notwithstanding  tlicf  severe  fighting 
of  yesterday,  the  Regiment  was  ordered  to  inarch  at  one 
o'clock  this  morning. 

Fighting  till  late  in  the  evening,  going  suppeiiess  to  sleep, 
with  an  enemy  within  a  few  rods,  and  an  order  to  march  at 
such  an  hour,  does  not  greatly  conduce  to  the  rest  of  an  army, 
or  the  fitting  of  it  for  a  fight  the  next  day ;  but  in  such  a 
position  as  General  Pope's  army  was  placed  at  this  time,  com 
fort  and  ease  are  not  expected.  The  inarch  was,  therefore, 
commenced  at  one  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  continued  to  Manassas 
Junction,  a  distance  of  ten  miles.  Owing  to  the  circumstance 
that  the  wagons  had  been  sent  on,  and  did  not  meet  the  Regi 
ment,  provisions  could  not  be  procured,  good  water  was  not  to 
be  had,  and  when  the  Regiment  reached  Manassas  the  men 
were  nearly  exhausted.  At  this  place  a  few  crackers  were 
obtained,  when,  after  a  few  hours  rest,  the  Regiment  was 
ordered  toward  Bull  Run.  Here  they  were  scarcely  halted 
before  orders  were  given  to  take  a  position,  and  after  a  short 
i 


130  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

time  the  Regiment,  with  others,  was  hurried  some  two  miles, 
mostly  at  double-quick,  to  a  point  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  to 
check  the  advancing  enemy.  On  the  way  up,  the  Regiment 
passed  General  McDowell,  who  inquired  :— 

"  What  regiment  is  this  ?"        « 

"  The  Seventy-sixth  New  York,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  boys,"  said  he,  u  you  are  following  a  retreating  foe  ! 
Push  'em  like  h— 1 !" 

The  men  gave  a  shout,  and  one  of  those  yells  of  triumph 
which  no  one  can  appreciate  until  he  hears  it  in  battle,  and  on 
they  went  over  the  rolling  ground,  until  they  came  to  a  hill 
larger  than  the  others,  and  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  main 
army.  They  had  nearly  reached  the  summit,  when  they  re 
ceived  a  destructive  volley  from  the  enemy  on  the  other  side 
of  the  ridge.  Doubleday's  Brigade  was  in  the  advance,  and 
this  unexpected  attack  by  the  "  retreating  foe,"  produced  con 
siderable  confusion  for  a  moment.  The  Brigade  finally  swung 
into  line  and  commenced  firing.  Hatch's  Brigade  came  up  on 
the  left,  and  Patrick's  on  the  left  of  Hatch's.  Our  line  now 
extended  from  the  road  on  the  right,  to  a  piece  of  woods  on 
the  left.  The  rebels  were  sheltered  and  hidden  from  sight  by 
the  woods,  stone  walls,  and  natural  rifle  pits,  from  which, 
while  protected,  they  poured  a  most  destructive  fire. 

There  may  be  sport,  at  least  there  is  fair  play,  in  standing 
up  and  fighting  an  open  enemy  equally  exposed  with  yourself ; 
but  to  stand  a  target,  in  an  open  field,  for  a  concealed  and 
protected  enemy,  has  more  of  the  disagreeable  than  the  pleas 
ing. 

The  officers  stood  up  bravely  with  their  men,  and  such  cour 
age  in  a  fair  fight  could  have  had  no  other  than  a  successful 
issue. 

In  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  as  the  colors  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  fell,  they  were  seized  by  Colonel  Wainwright,  who 


EETKEAT  AT  BULL  KUN.  131 

rushed  to  the  front,  and  by  his  manly  and  timely  exhibition 
of  courage,  infused  new  spirit  into  his  men. 

Close  to  the  left  flank  there  was  a  dense  wood,  from  which 
there  had  been  no  firing.  Orders  were  at  length  given  to  fire 
into  this  wood,  to  ascertain  whether  the  enemy  were  there, 
when  the  cry  came, — 

"  Don't  shoot  here !     You  are  firing  on  your  friends !" 

Supposing  our  skirmishers  had  probably  entered  there,  and 
were  being  fired  upon,  the  firing  was  ordered  to  cease.  Si 
lence  reigned  for  a  moment,  when  suddenly  a  terrific  volley 
was  poured  from  the  wood,  making  sad  havoc  in  our  ranks. 

Nothing  is  so  demoralizing  to  troops  as  an  unexpected  at 
tack  on  the  flank  and  rear.  Men  who  can  face  a  foe  without 
an  emotion,  will  often  break  in  confusion  when  attacked  by 
an  unseen  foe,  from  an  unexpected  quarter.  It  was  soon  as 
certained  that  instead  of  pursuing  a  retreating  foe,  the 
alternative  was  presented  to  the  Union  troops  to  retreat  or  be 
annihilated.  From  every  quarter  the  unseen  foe  poured  the 
deadly  volley — front,  flank,  rear !  No  army  could  stand  in 
such  a  death-angle.  The  enemy  must  be  driven  from  his 
hiding-place  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  or  the  Union  forces 
must  retreat.  General  Doubleday,  always  averse  to  a  retreat, 
was  about  to  order  a  charge  ;  but  just  at  this  point,  Patrick's 
brigade  broke  and  fell  back  upon  Hatch's,  which,  in  turn,  broke 
upon  Doubleday's.  As  the  surging  masses  came  doubling 
back  upon  Doubleday's  Brigade,  one  grand  effort  was  made  to 
push  forward  and  prevent  a  stampede.  Colonel  Wainwright 
requested  the  officers,  by  an  exhibition  of  personal  courage,  to 
inspire  their  men.  Captains  Barnard  and  Young  rushed  for 
ward  in  advance  of  their  men,  wrhom  they  called  upon  to 
follow ;  but  the  pressure  of  the  retreating  brigades  was  too 
strong,  and  soon  the  whole  advance  was  retreating  to  the 
main  line  in  wild  confusion. 


132  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  V. 

It  was  now  dark.  The  enemy,  finding  our  forces  were  re 
treating,  sent  up  a  shout,  unmasked  his  forces  and  rushed 
impetuously  forward.  Confusion  became  worse  confounded. 
In  the  darkness,  regiments  became  divided  and  mixed,  and 
even  the  enemy  and  the  Union  men  wrere  mingling  together 
promiscuously. 

This  was  pretty  well  illustrated  by  the  experiences  of  Major 
Livingston.  His  horse  had  been  shot,  and  the  Major's  hip  in 
jured  by  the  fall.  He  was  very  anxious  to  change  the  retreat 
into  an  advance,  and  thus,  on  foot,  swinging  his  sword,  he  or 
dered  everybody  to  "  right  about,  face  !"  but  his  orders  were 
unheeded.  At  length,  coining  up  to  a  regiment  inarching  in 
tolerable  order,  in  the  same  direction  with  the  general  current, 
and  concluding  they  were  sufficiently  strong,  at  least,  to  cover 
the  retreat  of  the  wounded  and  exhausted,  he  ordered  them  to 
halt  and  face  to  the  front,  giving  emphasis  to  the  command  by 
earnest  gesticulations  with  his  sword,  and  insisting  that  it  was 
a  shame  to  see  a  whole  regiment  running  away.  At  this 
juncture,  an  officer  demanded:— 

"  Who  are  you,  sir  3" 

"  Major  Livingston,  of  the  Seventy-sixth." 

"  Seventy-sixth  what  3"  asked  the  stranger. 

u  Seventy-sixth  New  York,"  replied  the  Major. 

"  Well,  then  you  are  my  prisoner,  for  you  are  attempting  to 
rally  the  Second  Mississippi." 

The  Major  did  not  appreciate  the  obedience  to  his  orders, 
as  they  faced  about  and  took  a  southerly  direction.  There 
was,  however,  no  alternative,  and  the  gallant  Major  was  taken 
to  the  rebel  headquarters,  in  the  rear,  and  there  subjected  to 
the  usual  examination  as  to  his  identity.  The  straps  of  a 
major  are  the  same,  except  in  color,  as  those  of  a  surgeon,  and 
on  the  examination,  the  Major,  not  having  his  commission 
convenient,  seemed  to  forget  his  rank,  and  insisted  that  he 


MAJOR  LIVINGSTON  AS  "  DOCTOK."  133 

was  a  surgeon.  The  ruse  de  guerre  was  so  well  played  that 
he  was  paroled,  put  in  command  of  a  squad  of  paroled  men, 
and  ordered  to  march  them  to  our  lines  and  give  an  account  of 
them.  The  Major  promptly  and  cheerfully  obeyed  the  order, 
but  took  good  care  to  yield  the  command  to  another  as  soon  as 
out  of  sight  of  the  rebel  headquarters,  taking  "French  leave," 
and  passing  unobserved  by  the  shortest  route  to  our  lines. 
The  result  justified  this  disobedience  of  the  orders  of  his  cap 
tors  ;  for  no  sooner  had  he  left  the  command,  than  it  was 
overtaken  by  a  squad  in  search  of  the  "  doctor,"  with  orders 
to  bring  him  back  at  once. 

While  Military  Governor,  at  Fredericksburg,  Major  Living 
ston  had  caused  the  arrest  of  a  notorious  rebel,  Colonel 
Slaughter,  who,  on  hearing  a  description  of  the  "  doctor," 
recognized  in  him  an  old  acquaintance,  and  had  obtained  an 
order  for  the  "  doctor's  "  delivery  into  his  hands.  The  proba 
bility  is,  that  to  the  timely  escape  of  the  Major  from  his 
command,  he  must  ever  attribute  his  escape  from  tortures 
more  horrid,  if  possible,  than  the  Inquisition,  and  his  reunion 
with  his  comrades  in  arms,  and  finally  his  little  family  and 
numerous  friends  in  his  northern  home.  He  was  affection 
ately  welcomed  to  the  Regiment,  and  the  officers  did  not 
permit  him  soon  to  forget  the  important  command  which  he 
had  voluntarily  assumed  in  the  Second  Mississippi. 

During  the  retreat,  Major  Doubleday,  of  the  Brigade 
staff,  recognized,  in  the  darkness,  the  color-bearer  of  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  staggering  along  under  the  weight  of  the  colors, 
and  unable  to  carry  them,  and  most  thoughtfully  took  them 
from  the  staff  and  buttoning  them  in  the  breast  of  his  coat, 
brought  them  in. 

The  retreating  force  finally  came  to  the  main  lines.  Here 
the  men  were  for  the  most  part  asleep,  and  nothing  was  astir 
except  the  sentinel,  whose  voice  was  now  and  then  heard 


134:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K.  Y.  V. 

challenging  some  party  presented  for  admittance  to  the  lines. 
This,  however,  soon  changed,  and  the  confusion  communicated 
itself  to  the  main  line.  The  regiments  were  all  mixed  ;  men 
trying  to  find  their  comrades,  and  calling  out,  "  Where  is  the 
Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania?"  "Where  is  the  Seventy-sixth 
New  York  ?"  and  the  officers  endeavoring,  in  the  darkness,  to 
get  their  men  together.  "  Men  of  the  Twenty-third  this  way  !" 
"  The  Twentieth  to  the  right,"  all  making  "  confusion  worse 
confounded,"  and  tending  very  slightly,  if  at  all,  to  the  proper 
organization  of  the  respective  regiments. 

Nearly  exhausted,  the  men  finally  sank  supperless  upon  the 
ground  and  found  that  relief  which  nature  alone  administers 
to  the  weary  and  disheartened. 

On  the  retreat,  Captain  Barnard,  of  Company  F,  becoming  too 
much  exhausted  to  accompany  the  men,  Colonel  Wainwright, 
with  that  kindness  of  heart  which  ever  characterized  him, 
kindly  insisted  upon  the  Captain's  riding  his  horse  ;  and  thus, 
alternately  riding  and  walking,  the  two  officers  reached  the 
main  lines. 

In  this  battle  the  Seventy-sixth  had  fifteen  wounded  and 
twenty -four  missing.  Among  the  wounded  were  three  officers. 

Lieutenant  Richard  Williams,  of  Company  I,  was  severely 
wounded,  and  died  of  his  wound  shortly  after.  He  was  a 
brave  and  efficient  officer.  As  he  received  the  wound,  he  fell 
against  Sergeant  Martin  Edgcomb,  and  begged  to  be  carried 
off  the  field ;  but  the  Regiment  was  hastily  retreating,  and 
he  was  of  necessity  left.  He  was  engaged  in  the  first  Bull 
Run  battle,  in  the  Seventy-first  New  York  volunteers,  and 
did  himself  great  credit  on  that  occasion,  as  one  of  the  few 
who  stood  their  ground  to  the  last.  He  was  often  heard  to 
say : — "  I  have  come  out  to  fight,  and  I  expect  to  have  plenty 
of  it  to  do  :  but  I  hope  and  pray  I  may  never  be  called  upon 
to  fight  on  that  accursed  Bull  Run  field  again  I  I  have  a  per- 


DEATH  OF  LIEUTENANT  WILLIAMS.  135 

feet  dread  and  horror  of  it !"  It  seemed  as  though  a 
premonition  of  what  was  to  be  his  fate  continually  warned 
him  of  the  dangers  of  that  fated  field.  It  was  a  strange  coin 
cidence  that  he  fell  mortally  wounded  upon  the  very  spot  he 
so  much  dreaded !  He  was  brought  to  Centreville  the  next 
day,  where  he  died,  and  at  the  hands  of  a  mourning  Regi- 
ment  received  a  soldier's  burial.  E"o  officer  in  the  Regiment 
bade  fairer  to  become  a  shining  ornament  to  the  service  than 
Lieutenant  Richard  Williams.  He  sleeps  in  the  soil  he  died 
to  consecrate  to  freedom  ;  and  though  the  rebel  States  may  be 
come  "  reconstructed "  and  again  take  their  places  in  the 
glorious  constellation  of  united,  free  republics,  the  graves  of 
Lieutenant  Williams,  and  the  thousands  who,  with  him, 
offered  their  lives  upon  the  altar  of  human  equality,  will  be 
silent  but  eloquent  warnings  against  ever  again  placing  the 
reins  of  government  in  the  parricidal  hands  dripping  with 
their  patriot  blood. 

Captain  Charles  L.  Watrous,  of  Company  D,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  arm,  and  did  no  farther  duty  in  the  Regiment, 
lie  received  his  wound  in  the  first  line  before  the  retreat. 

Lieutenant  R.  W.  Carrier,  of  Company  II,  was  wounded  in 
the  leg,  above  the  knee. 

Thomas  Redmond,  of  Company  I,  mentioned  in  the  last 
chapter,  here  again  displayed  his  soldierly  qualities,  by  seizing 
the  colors  and  carrying  them  to  the  front,  in  the  hottest  of  the 
fight,  an  honor  which  a  little  musician,  Dorsey  D.  Case,  of 
Company  D,  formerly  Company  C,  begged  the  privilege  of 
sharing. 

Saturday,  August  30th. — Shortly  after  sunrise,  the  frag 
ments  of  regiments  in  the  Brigade  were  drawn  up  in  line  ; 
and  it  was  truly  heart-rending  to  witness  the  change  which,  in 
twenty  days,  had  come  over  that  noble  Brigade.  When  it 
left  Fredcricksburg  on  the  ninth,  it  numbered  about  fifteen 


136  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  V. 

hundred  men,  and  now  there  were  not  to  exceed  five  hundred ! 
So  much  had  twenty  days  of  continuous  marching  and  fight 
ing  done  for  this  one  Brigade. 

When  we  consider  the  vast  amount  of  severe  marching, 
and  great  number  of  battles  fought  during  this  war,  we  come 
to  understand  why  so  many  and  such  seemingly  enormous  calls 
were  made  by  the  President  for  men.  One  vigorous  cam 
paign  of  fighting  scarcely  leaves  enough  for  drill  sergeants  for 
the  new  levies  necessary  for  the  next. 

But  the  Regiment  was  not  long  idle.  The  order  was  given 
to  move  forward  across  the  creek,  which,  in  the  confusion  of 
last  night,  had  been  recrossed,  and  take  a  position  as  reserves. 
The  other  Brigades  of  the  Division  were  engaged,  but,  although 
within  range  of  the  artillery,  the  Seventy-sixth,  on  this  occa 
sion,  did  not  come  under  the  infantry  fire.  The  grape,  shells, 
and  solid  shot  came  through  the  woods  like  hail ;  but  being 
fired  too  high,  no  casualties  occurred  in  the  Seventy-sixth. 
During  all  the  excitement,  as  the  iron  hail  rattled  among  the 
trees,  Colonel  Wainwright  sat  upon  his  horse,  apparently  as 
unconcerned  as  to  his  personal  safety,  as  if  he  wrere  reviewing 
his  Regiment  on  dress  parade  ;  every  now  and  then,  as  a  ball 
came  whizzing  past,  coolly  advising  his  men  to  lie  closer  to 
the  ground. 

The  fighting  on  the  left  was  terrific,  but  in  this  the  Seven 
ty-sixth  was  not  engaged.  It  had  been  acting,  however,  as  a 
reserve  to  a  line  which  had  been  under  heavy  fire  in  the  woods 
and  repulsed.  The  Brigade  was  then  withdrawn  to  a  plain. 

At  this  time,  the  shattered  remains  of  the  Twelfth  Massa 
chusetts  wThich  had  apparently,  in  some  way,  been  left  behind, 
came  up  to  us.  Its  Adjutant,  De  Hone,  a  fine  fellow,  who 
was  afterwards  killed  at  the  storming  of  the  heights  near 
Fredericksburg,  came  up  to  Colonel  Wainwright  with  the 
colors  in  his  hands,  and  asked  if  General  Doubleday  would 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  BETWEEN  Two  FIRES.         137 

permit  them  to  join  his  command.     His  request  was  granted. 

The  Brigade  had  been  stationed  to  secure  a  deep  ravine. 
After  some  time  a  man  accidentally  climbing  up  one  bank, 
reported  that  the  troops  supposed  to  be  close  by  on  the  bank, 
were  gone.  Immediately  another  was  sent  up  the  opposite 
bank,  and  on  his  return  reported  none  there.  It  was  evident 
the  Brigade  had  been  forgotten.  Just  then,  to  add  to  the 
excitement  of  the  position,  the  enemy  opened  fire  upon  them 
with  artillery.  General  Doubleday  managed  the  retreat  very 
skillfully,  availing  himself  of  the  turns  in  the  ravine,  and  the 
Brigade  at  last  came  in  sight  of  our  own  army  in  retreat.  In 
stead  of  security,  they  now  opened  upon  the  Brigade, 
mistaking  it  for  a  rebel  force,  and  it  was  only  by  signs,  and 
presenting  the  colors,  thus  showing  their  political  status,  under 
some  danger  to  the  bearer,  that  the  firing  was  stopped.  This 
gave  the  rebels  a  fair  mark,  and  they  opened  upon  if,  and  for 
a  few  moments  tilings  were  slightly  mixed. 

These  fires  from  different  directions  are  not  pleasant  to  con 
template.  A  shell  was  thrown  by  the  rebels,  striking  a  few 
feet  from  the  flag,  killing  one  and  wounding  another,  of  the 
Ninety-fifth  New  York.  Just  at  this  time,  Colonel  Wain- 
wright  rode  up,  and,  as  he  saw  an  indication  of  uneasiness, 
said,  calmly,  "  Be  quiet,  men.  God  will  do  with  us  as  he 
will,"  and  he  had  no  occasion  to  say  it  again.  This  was 
Colonel  Wainwright's  belief — a  short,  but  very  encouraging 
and  sustaining  creed  in  battle.  lie  firmly  believed  that  God 
would,  in  his  own  appointed  time,  take  men  to  himself,  and 
that,  whether  in  the  fiercest  struggle  of  battle,  or  the  quiet 
seclusion  of  home,  there  was  no  occasion  to  fear,  for  the  issues 
of  life  and  death  are  in  His  hands  who  knows  when  is  the  fit 
and  proper  time  to  call  for  us.  Such  men  not  only  never 
indulge  in  fear,  but  generally  succeed  in  dispelling  the  fears  of 
those  with  whom  they  mingle. 


138  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  ISL  Y.  V. 

From  a  regimental  stand-point,  there  was  very  little  in  this 
day's  operations  calculated  to  dispel  apprehensions  or  encourage 
hope.  General  Pope,  however,  as,  with  his  generals  gathered 
upon  a  commanding  eminence,  he  looked  down  upon  the 
furious  battle,  and  saw  our  brave  warriors  steadily  repel  the 
rebel  hosts,  ever  and  anon  sending  up  the  shout  of  victory,  as 
they  drove  the  enemy  from  some  entrenched  position,  indulged 
the  belief  that  we  had  really  won  a  victory,  and  that  our 
retreat  which  had  continued  from  Cedar  Mountain,  would  now 
be  changed  to  an  advance.  Then  it  was  that  his  celebrated 
dispatch  was  sent  to  Washington,  which,  for  a  brief  period, 
lifted  the  cloud  of  despair  enshrouding  the  Capital,  and  per 
mitted  the  sunshine  of  hope  to  warm  the  loyal  Northern  heart. 
But  this  sense  of  security  and  success  was  not  long  enter 
tained.  On  came  the  rebel  reserves,  and,  as  our  brave  handful, 
with  Spartan  courage,  stood  their  ground,  mowing  down  the 
regiments  with  which  they  were  engaged,  each  hour  expecting 
reinforcements  from  General  McClellan — expectations  only 
indulged  to  be  blighted — the  rebel  hosts  were  continually 
strengthened  by  fresh  arrivals,  until  finally  the  strength  of 
numbers  and  unspent  physical  force,  pressed  back  the  Union 
army,  which  took  up  again  its  line  of  retreat  upon  Centreville, 
and  Bull  Run  witnessed  the  repetition  of  the  retreat  of  thir 
teen  months  before.  In  this  instance,  however,  owing  to 
the  good  effects  of  discipline,  the  retreat  was  orderly,  and 
though  the  troops  were  tired  and  weak,  there  was  none  of  that 
demoralization  witnessed  on  the  former  occasion. 

The  retreat  was  continued  until  late  in  the  night,  when  the 
Seventy-sixth  arrived  within  about  a  mile  of  Centreville,  ex 
hausted  and  nearly  disheartened.  As  they  came  to  Bull  Run, 
they  halted  to  fill  their  canteens  with  the  muddy  water,  and 
then  waded  the  stream,  at  this  point  about  three  rods  in  width, 
with  two  feet  of  water,  under  which  was  another  foot  of  mud. 


ON  THE  BETKEAT.  139 

In  these  three  days'  of  fighting,  the  Seventy-sixth  lost  in  killed 
and  wounded,  nine  officers  and  eighty-nine  men,  .with  one 
officer  and  forty-eight  men  missing. 

August  31st. — This  morning  it  commenced  to  rain — one  of 
those  drizzling  rains  that  gives  an  unpleasant  aspect  to  every 
thing,  and  even  in  a  comfortable  house,  by  a  cheerful  fire, 
with  one's  wife  and  little  ones,  is  wrell  calculated  to  breed  the 
"blues."  But  retreating  from  a  victorious  enemy  knows  no  ob 
stacles.  If  the  sun  shines,  all  the  better ;  it  helps  keep  one's 
courage  up,  and  gives  us  fortitude  with  which  to  bear  the 
disgrace  ;  but  whether  the  sun  shines  or  the  clouds  lower,  the 
retreating  army  must  plod  its  way  onward  to  a  place  of  safety. 
To-day  the  roads  would  have  seemed  impassable  for  any 
aggressive  movement,  yet  the  Seventy-sixth,  in  common  with 
its  fellows,  waded  on  until  about  noon,  when  the  welcome 
order,  "  stack,  arms,"  was  given,  and  the  men  were  once  more, 
at  last,  in  bivouac. 

General  Franklin  had  been  stationed  in  the  defenses  of 
Centreville,  and  within  those  defenses,  as  the  Seventy-sixth 
passed  through,  was  one  scene  of  confusion.  Fragments  of 
regiments  of  infantry,  mingled  with  batteries  of  artillery,  and 
battalions  of  cavalry,  all  conglomerated  into  one  heterogenous 
mass,  clearly  illustrated  the  effects  of  a  hasty  retreat  even  of 
disciplined  troops.  They  had  retreated  to  that  place  in  tole 
rable  order ;  but  now  that  the  necessity  of  maintaining  their 
organization  had  in  some  measure  passed  away,  the  different 
regiments  and  arms  of  the  service  became  commingled  until 
one  almost  felt  the  loss  of  his  personal  identity. 

On  arriving  in  camp,  the  Regiment  was  mustered  for  pay, 
and  the  hope  was  fondly  cherished  that  there  would  be  a  cessa 
tion  of  hostilities  for  a  season,  and  the  troops  be  permitted  to 
recruit  their  wasted  energies. 

September  1st. — All  human  hopes  are  evanescent,  and  es- 


14:0  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

pecially  is  this  true  with  the  soldier.  Does  he  meet  the  foe 
and  fight  manfully,  just  at  the  point  where  he  is  to  press  for 
ward  to  victory,  the  order  to  retreat  is  given ;  does  he 
anticipate  a  march  and  change  of  scenery  and  experiences,  he 
is  ordered  into  camp  to  endure  that  routine  so  much  dreaded ; 
does  he  reach  a  camp  tired  and  disheartened,  and  anticipate  a 
few  days  of  rest,  no  sooner  does  he  pitch  his  tent  than  the 
order  comes  to  march.  This  last  was  verified  by  the  Seventy- 
sixth  to-day.  The  men  had  pitched  their  tents,  and  were 
casting  about  for  those  little  conveniences  which  make  camp 
life  pleasant,  when,  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
marching  orders  were  received,  and,  after  the  usual  prepara 
tions,  the  Regiment  moved  on  towards  Fairfax,  and  at  night 
encamped  just  west  of  the  village.  Soon  after  arriving  there, 
a  heavy  musketry  and  artillery  fire  commenced  about  a  mile 
to  the  north,  and  lasted  about  an  hour.  A  severe  thunder- 
shower  in  the  mean  time  set  in,  but  it  apparently  had  no  effect 
upon  the  combatants.  The  flash  of  the  cannon  and  musket 
answered  the  forked  lightning,  and  the  heavy  thunder  was 
re-echoed  from  the  cannon's  mouth ;  and  thus  on  the  bloody 
field  of  Chantilly,  amid  the  thunder  and  the  lightning,  the 
roar  of  cannon  and  the  death-rattle  of  musketry,  many  a  hero 
sank  down  to  that  sleep  which  knows  no  waking ! 

A  hospital  had  been  established  at  Chantilly,  and  several  of 
the  men  of  the  Seventy-sixth  had  been  placed  there  for  treat 
ment.  Among  the  number  was  Jay  Webster,  who  "  com 
manded,"  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  first  armed  fight,  at 
Washington.  When  the  enemy  attempted  to  flank  our  army 
to-day,  a  battalion  was  organized  from  the  convalescents, 
under  Major  Sukely.  Jay  Webster  was  among  the  number, 
and  on  that  occasion  received  a  wound  in  his  knee.  It  was 
here  that  the  noble  Generals  Kearney  and  Stevens  were  killed. 
General  Kearney  had  lost  an  arm  in  the  Mexican  War.  He 


SEVERE  MAKCHING  AND  PICKET  DUTY. 

was  one  of  those  few  generals  who  believed  that  war  means 
fight)  and  it  is  to  this  article  in  his  military  creed  that  he  owes 
his  death.  Ordinarily,  the  higher  the  command  of  the  officer, 
the  farther  he  is  removed  from  danger.  The  private  goes 
ahead  and  does  the  fighting,  and  the  commanding  general 
scarcely  hears  the  guns  that  are  to  write  his  name  in  charac 
ters  of  light,  or  hand  it  down  to  posterity  as  an  ambitious 
humbug.  But  General  Kearney  reversed  the  order.  With 
the  reins  in  his  mouth,  and  swinging  his  sword  with  his  single 
hand,  he  dashed  forward  towards  the  enemy,  calling  upon  the 
men  to  follow.  Then,  finding  himself  several  rods  in  advance, 
he  would  dash  back  to  his  troops,  and  urge  them  to  greater 
speed,  when  away  he  would  rush  at  the  enemy  again,  only  to 
repeat  the  scene  again  and  again.  Finding  the  rebels  in  a 
cornfield  and  entrenched  behind  a  stone  wall,  he  ordered  a 
charge,  and,  leading  the  men,  when  near  the  wall,  a  rebel  ball 
pierced  the  brave  General,  and  he  fell  lifeless  to  the  ground. 
Our  army,  however,  was  victorious,  and  the  enemy,  unable  to 
flank  Pope's  little  handful  of  troops,  fell  back,  while  the  Union 
army  held  the  field. 

The  march  of  this  last  day  of  the  retreat,  was  the  most 
severe  of  the  campaign.  The  rain  having  thoroughly  satu 
rated  the  soil,  the  heavy  trains  had  converted  the  roads  into 
streams  and  lakes  of  thin  mud.  Shoes  afforded  no  protection, 
as  the  mud  was,  most  of  the  way,  knee  deep.  A  more  dismal 
scene  cannot  well  be  imagined.  The  men  were  obliged  to 
retreat  ten  or  twelve  miles,  wading  the  whole  distance,  while 
their  loads  were  continually  augmented  by  the  storm  of  rain 
and  sleet  which  continued  through  the  day  and  night.  This 
day's  march  was  truly  terrible,  but  nothing  compared  with  the 
night's  work  that  followed.  On  reaching  what  they  supposed 
would  be  their  camp  for  the  night,  General  Doubleday  was 
ordered  to  send  out  his  best  regiment  to  guard  an  important 


142  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

point.  He  cliose  the  Seventy-sixth,  saying  he  could  rely  upon 
that  in  any  emergency.  Orders  were,  therefore,  received,  for 
the  Seventy-sixth  to  march  about  four  miles  to  the  left,  and 
do  picket  duty  during  the  night.  The  men  had,  during  the 
hot  days,  thrown  away  every  garment  they  could  spare,  and 
many  were  now  only  protected  from  the  weather  by  a  thin 
blouse,  not  wearing  even  a  shirt.  They  were  so  thoroughly 
drenched  that  there  was  scarely  a  dry  thread  in  the  Regiment. 
The  night  was  so  intensely  dark,  that  an  object  could  scarcely 
be  seen  five  paces  distant.  The  rain  and  sleet  continued  una 
bated,  while  the  north-west  wind  sent  it  with  almost  fatal 
effect  against  the  shivering  and  nearly  paralyzed  forms  of  the 
men  ;  and  to  add  to  and  intensify  the  horrors  of  the  night,  no 
fires,  not  even  a  match,  could  be  lighted.  And  thus,  through 
that  long,  dreary  night,  shivering  and  almost  freezing,  did  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Seventy-sixth  watch  and  wait  for  the 
enemy.  Severer  tests  of  courage  may  have  been  made  upon 
the  Regiment ;  but  never  again  did  the  men  suffer  as  during 
that  night.  The  morning  finally  came  to  the  relief  of  the 
suffering  heroes,  and  the  Seventy-sixth  continued  the  retreat 
with  the  Brigade  to  Upton  Hill. 

Thus  ended  the  campaign.  It  had  been  short,  but  more 
than  usually  severe.  Beginning  with  the  retreat  from  Cedar 
Mountain,  and,  in  the  case  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  with  the 
inarch  from  Fredericksburg,  it  is  seldom  that  an  army  has 
been  required  to  undergo  more  than  our  men  performed. 
"With  scarcely  a  day's  intermission,  the  Third  Corps,  to  which 
this  Regiment  belonged,  was  either  making  forced  inarches, 
often  in  the  night,  and  through  the  hottest  days  of  August, 
frequently  without  proper  water,  much  of  the  time  without 
food,  or  engaged  in  battles  as  severe  and  destructive  as  have 
taken  place  during  this  war.  The  Regiment  had  already 
been  under  fire  at  five  different  battles.  It  left  New  York 


No  REST  FOR  THE  AKMY.  143 

0 

with  nearly  one  thousand  men.  The  exposures  of  camp,  and 
those  diseases  incident  to  acclimation,  had  so  reduced  it  that 
when  it  left  Fredericksburg  it  contained  but  about  four  hun 
dred  and  fifty  officers  and  men  ;  and  now,  after  the  struggles 
of  this  campaign,  though  several  had  rejoined  it  from  Frede 
ricksburg  and  elsewhere,  it  only  numbered  about  two  hundred 
and  twenty -five.  Of  the  thirty  line  officers,  only  six  remained 
— a  fearful  reduction  in  both  officers  and  men.  The  men 
left  were  so  worn  out  by  the  long  marches  and  severe  priva 
tions  that  they  were  entirely  unfit  for  duty.  This  report 
was  made  by  Colonel  Wainwright,  with  a  request  that  the 
Regiment  be  recruited,  and  supplied  with  officers,  and  a  little 
rest  allowed  to  put  it  in  condition  to  take  the  field.  The  only 
answer  to  this  request  was  an  order  to  march,  half-equipped, 
to  South  Mountain,  Antietam  and  elsewhere ! 

All  the  evidence  concurs  in  proving  that  had  General  Pope 
been  cordially  supported  by  General  McClellan,  the  enemy 
would  have  been  immediately  hurled  back  upon  Richmond , 
or  almost  totally  cut  up  and  destroyed. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  General  McClellan,  was 
comparatively  fresh.  The  Government  distinctly  understood, 
and  early  notified  him  of  the  critical  situation  of  affairs, 
repeatedly  urging  him  forward.  Whenever  he  sent  an  excuse 
for  delay,  the  Government  immediately  removed  the  difficulty 
or  suggested  its  solution.  When  he  halted,  Government 
urged  him  to  immediate  action.  But  still,  knowing  that  Pope 
was  in  the  very  vortex  of  ruin,  overwhelmed  by  the  whole 
rebel  army,  being  literally  crushed  by  the  force  of  numbers, 
he  yet  persistently  withheld  any  and  all  support,  but  stood 
and  watched  the  surging  mass  of  overpowered  and  disheart 
ened  patriots,  as  they  were  driven  by  their  triumphant  foe 
into  the  defences  of  Washington. 

A  terrible  reckoning  is  in  store  for  those  generals,  who  with 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGEMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

troops  at  their  command,  comparatively  fresh — generals  and 
troops  who  had  been  saved  from  annihilation  by  the  timely 
aid  of  General  Pope,  and  yet  who,  from  jealous  envy,  could 
thus  sacrifice  their  protector  upon  the  shrine  of  their  own  un 
hallowed  ambition.  That  such  misplaced  confidence  was  ever 
renewed  argues  volumes  for  the  forgiving  spirit  of  our  mar 
tyred  President ! 


CHAPTER    XII. 

A  SHORT  REST— MARCH  THROUGH  WASHINGTON— SEVENTH  STREET— FORT  MASSACHU 
SETTS—MARCH   THROUGH    "MY    MARYLAND  "—FREDERICK    ClTY— CORDIAL  WELCOME 

BY  THE  PEOPLE— BATTLE  OF  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN— DEATH  OF  CHARLES  E.  STAMP- 
COLONEL  WAINWRIGHT  WOUNDED— REBEL  RUSE— THEY  ARE  SEVERELY  PUNISHED— A 
UNION  VICTORY. 

September  M,  1862.— Tlic  armies  of  the  Potomac  and  of  Vir 
ginia  are  now  united  and  within  the  defenses  of  Washington. 

O  O 

No  one  well  informed  will  question  the  assertion  that  had  they 
been  thus  united  at  Gainesville  five  days  ago,  there  would 
have  been  no  necessity  for  their  occupying  defenses.  The  two 
armies  combined  could  have  hurled  back  the  rebel  hosts,  and 
not  only  avoided  the  second  defeat  at  Bull  Run,  but  saved  the 
necessity  of  the  Maryland  campaign.  This  war  would  then 
have  terminated  in  1862  instead  of  1865.  But  God  had  a 
great  problem  to  solve,  and,  with  our  finite  judgment,  we 
must  not  declare  that  He  did  not  make  these  bickerinp-s  and 

O 

jealousies  of  commanders,  which  seem  to  so  disgrace  them,  to 
serve  His  holy  purpose.  Great  reforms  require  time.  lie 
who  can  jump  astride  a  hobby,  and  deem  himself  able  to  work 
a  wonder  in  a  day,  will,  on  the  second  day,  find  himself  won 
derfully  mistaken.  Slavery  was  to  be  abolished.  The  foul 
cancer  was  eating  the  life  out  of  the  nation.  It  was  sapping 
the  foundation  of  our  national  prosperity.  Its  growth  had 
been  gradual  and  slow ;  it  had  struck  its  roots  deep  into  a 
portion  of  the  national  heart ;  upon  it  partiesliad  been  reared 
K 


146  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K.  Y.  Y. 

and  nourished,  and  when  it  demanded  new  guaranties,  or  the 
destruction  of  the  nation,  a  powerful  party  was  drawing  its 
inspiration,  if  not  its  very  existence  from  it ;  the  institutions, 
civil,  social,  and  religious,  of  nearly  half  the  Union,  were 
based  upon  and  shaped  to  this  one  institution,  and  we  could 
not  reasonably  expect  its  overthrow  without  an  effort,  and 
without  time  for  its  accomplishment.  Had  the  war  ended 
with  this  campaign,  it  would  be  difficult  to  see  how  slavery 
would  have  been  abolished,  and  without  that  result,  the  war 
would,  indeed,  have  been  a  failure.  A  Union  in  form  we 
might  have  had  ;  but  a  rope  of  sand  would  have  bound  us 
together,  and  though  this  is  not  said  with  a  view  to  a  jiiStifi- 
cation  of  any  narrow-minded  general,  who  would,  from 
personal  motives,  suffer  the  flag  of  his  country  to  be  disgraced, 
when  he  had  the  power  to  prevent  it,  yet  there  is  no  doubt 
that  the  very  defeat  described  in  the  preceding  pages,  con 
tributed,  in  the  end,  to  the  advancement  of  the  best  interests 
of  the  country.  So  little  do  we  know  of  the  use  which  Prov 
idence  is  making  of  us  all  in  working  out  the  problems  of  His 
own  infinite  mind. 

The  men  were  now  confident  they  were  to  enjoy  rest.  The 
long  marches  which  they  had  performed,  night  after  night  de 
prived  of  sleep,  and  continually  excited  by  those  rumors  which 
ever  infest  a  camp,  and  especially  when  situated  like  this 
army  on  the  retreat,  were  enough  to  induce  a  desire  for  quiet ; 
but,  added  to  this,  and  the  want  of  provisions — the  trains  hav 
ing  been  frequently  far  from  the  troops — was  the  more 
disheartening  fact,  that  during  all  those  long,  sultry  days,  and 
weary,  wakeful  nights,  they  had  been  on  a  retreat.  To  fight 
and  retreat,  and  retreat  and  fight,  in  the  face  of  a  superior 
force,  is  a  very  severe  test  of  the  soldier.  This  they  had  done 
for  the  last  fifteen  days,  and,  though  many  broke  down  under 
the  fatigue  and  exposures,  and  many  straggled  from  the  ranks, 


AGAIN  ON  THE  MARCH.  147 

the  troops,  as  a  general  thing,  behaved  most  creditably,  and, 
though  sadly  depleted  in  numbers,  and  the  remainder  tired 
and  reduced  from  marching  and  fasting,  they  preserved  their 
discipline  to  a  remarkable  degree. 

The  men  had  just  mustered  for  pay.  A  portion  had  been 
reclothed ;  most  of  them  had  already  the  comforts  of  camp 
life,  when,  after  a  short  stay  of  four  days,  the  orders  were 
given  (September  sixth)  to  march. 

The  rebels,  appreciating  their  inability  to  capture  Washing 
ton  from  the  south,  had  commenced  a  flank  movement,  which 
brought  the  army  into  Maryland,  across  the  Upper  Potomac, 
with  the  evident  design,  either  to  march  into  Pennsylvania, 
as  they  subsequently  did  in  1863,  or  attack  Washington  or 
Baltimore,  or  both,  from  the  north  and  west. 

The  men  had,  in  these  four  days,  considerably  revived  in 
body  and  spirit.  For  the  first  time  in  twenty  days,  the 
rations  were  regularly  issued,  which,  writh  the  sense  of 
security  which  pervaded  the  camp,  had  brought  the  men  back 
to  nearly  their  normal  condition. 

At  six  P.  M.,  September  sixth,  the  Division  was  ordered  to 
march  through  Washington  into  Maryland.  The  men  had 
seen  sufficient  fighting  to  deprive  it  of  all  the  novelty  with 
wThich  it  presents  it-self  to  the  unfledged  warrior,  and  yet  it 
was  not  entirely  with  regret  that  the  Regiment  bade  adieu  to 
Upton  Hill.  Before  them  arose  bright  visions  of  the  time 
when,  with  their  combined  forces,  they  should  meet  and  van 
quish  the  foe  which  had  so  severely  treated  them,  and  not  a 
few  anticipated  rather  than  dreaded  the  trial  which  was  to 
make  them  conquerors. 

The  whole  army  was  now  in  motion.  Many  of  the  same 
guns  that  flashed  in  the  sunlight,  as  they  crossed  the  river  the 
March  before,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  in  the  direction  of 
Richmond,  were  now  in  pursuit  of  the  same  enemy  on  the 
northern  side  of  the  Potomac. 


148  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Many  thousands  of  that  noble  army  had  fallen  in  the 
swamps  of  the  Chickahominy,  and  in  the  battles  of  the  Pe 
ninsula  ;  but  their  places  had  been  more  than  filled  by  the 
battle-scarred  veterans  of  the  Army  of  Yirginia,  and  they 
now  felt  invincible. 

The  strength  of  an  army  is  measured  not  only  or  chiefly  by 
its  numbers,  but  by  its  morale.  If  it  is  confident  of  its 
strength,  and  of  success,  a  small  army  will  accomplish  much 
more  than  a  larger  army  wanting  this  confidence. 

As  usual,  the  road  was  blocked  up  by  troops  that  had  pre 
ceded.  The  Kegiment,  after  going  a  mile  or  two,  stacked 
arms  and  rested  until  the  roads  should  be  cleared.  The  ob 
structions  removed,  the  order  was  given  to  forward,  and  on 
went  the  Kegiment.  The  march  was  continued  all  night.  At 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  Seventy-sixth  stopped  for  a 
short  time  in  front  of  the  White  House,  in  Washington,  and 
the  men  welcomed  the  opportunity  to  throw  themselves  down 
to  rest  a  few  moments  upon  the  stone  sidewalk.  Then, 
through  Washington,  up  Seventh  street,  where  on  their  way 
to  war,  the  Seven ty-sixth  had  so  forcibly  inculcated  its  doc 
trines  of  human  rights ;  past  Fort  Massachusetts,  where  the 
fore  part  of  summer  was  spent,  until  a  march  of  about  a 
dozen  miles  had  been  accomplished. 

The  officers  and  men  could  not  avoid  observing  the  change  in 
their  condition,  as  they  passed  their  former  headquarters. 
Less  than  four  months  had  elapsed  since  they  left  the  fort 
nearly  eight  hundred  strong,  with  clean,  new  uniforms ;  the 
men  in  excellent  condition,  with  happy  faces,  and  panting  for 
a  fight ;  now,  ragged,  gaunt,  foot-sore  and  jaded,  with  scarcely 
two  hundred  men  fit  for  duty ! 

The  inarch  was  continued  until  September  fourteenth,  when 
the  Kegiment  passed  through  Frederick  City,  Md.  Soon 
after  leaving  the  city,  cannonading  could  be  distinctly  heard 


RECEPTION  OF  LOYAL  MARYLAND.  149 

at  the  front.  The  march  was  quickened,  and  kept  tip  al 
most  at  double-quick,  until  about  noon,  when  Middletown 
was  passed,  and  South  Mountain  arose  to  the  view  but  a  mile 
or  two  in  advance.  The  inspiring  intelligence  had  been  con 
veyed  to  our  men  before  this,  that  Burnside  had  occupied 
Frederick  City,  and  now,  as  the  brigades  passed  through  that 
place  they  enjoyed  an  inspiring  ovation.  The  people  of  Ma 
ryland,  cursed  to  a  less  extent  by  slavery,  than  had  been  most 
of  the  Southern  States,  had  succeeded  in  retaining  its  loyalty 
to  a  greater  degree.  Loyalty  and  slavery  are  directly  antago 
nistic,  and  by  conning  the  census  tables  showing  the  white 
and  slave  population,  one  might  very  nearly  arrive  at  the 
character  of  the  reception  that  awaited  the  advent  of  the 
Union  army  into  any  particular  city  or  locality. 

The  weather  was  excellent  for  marching.  Evidences  multi 
plied  that  the  enemy  were  retreating,  and  we  occupying  the 
ground  they  had  just  left,  and  added  to  this  inspiriting  fact 
was  the  cheering  reception  given  by  the  loyal  people,  as  the 
troops  marched  along.  There  were  many  surly  secessionists, 
who  illy  concealed  their  rage  at  this  "invasion"  of  their  State 
by  the  "  Yankee  horde  ;"  but  all  along  the  march  were  unmis 
takable  evidences  that  the  people  of  Maryland  were  much 
more  loyal,  as  a  whole,  than  those  with  whom  the  Seventy- 
sixth  had  mingled  for  the  last  four  months.  In  Frederick 
City,  especially,  was  this  loyalty  manifested.  Flags  were 
waving  throughout  the  day,  from  almost  every  house ;  hand 
kerchiefs  were  fluttering,  while  ever  and  anon  a  beautiful 
bouquet  would  be  tossed  by  the  fairest  hands  of  Maryland's 
loyal  daughters.  These  were  answered  by  cheer  upon  cheer 
from  the  happy  patriots,  until  they  cheered  themselves  hoarse 
in  the  attempt  to  show  their  appreciation  of  the  reception. 
One  can  scarcely  estimate  the  value  of  such  a  reception,  upon 
the  very  eve  of  the  terrible  battle  of  South  Mountain.  The 


150  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  !N".  Y.  V. 

men  not  only  had  friends  at  home  to  protect  with  their  lives  ; 
but  a  new  inspiration  urged  them  forward,  as  they  thought  of 
these  loyal  daughters  of  a  State  around  which  the  monster  of 
secession  had  attempted  to  wind  his  deadly  coil.  They  con 
sidered  themselves  no  longer  on  an  enemy's  soil,  but  as  the 
defenders  of  Maryland's  honor,  to  drive  from  the  soil  an 
enemy  who  had  invaded  a  State,  the  allegiance  of  which 
they  had  vainly  attempted  to  sever. 

"  None  but  a  coward  will  boast  that  he  was  never  afraid," 
once  remarked  a  celebrated  officer  ;  and,  though  the  men  were 
steady  and  determined,  there  were  many  who  gazed  upon  the 
curling  wreaths  of  smoke,  as  they  arose  from  the  mountain 
side  before  them,  and  as  they  listened  to  the  roar  of  cannon 
and  the  clatter  of  musketry,  and  thought  of  the  dear  ones  in 
their  distant  homes,  saw  and  heard  nothing  that  would  not 

O 

have  been  gladly  silenced  and  avoided  could  they  as  well  have 
saved  their  country  without  as  with  a  battle.  We  may  talk 
of  that  patriotism  which  willingly  offers  up  life  and  all  upon 
the  country's  altar,  and  write  poetry  and  sing  peans  to  per 
petuate  the  memory  of  the  dying  martyr.  It  all  sounds  well 
in  declamation,  and  reads  well  in  verse,  and  is  all  correct  in 
theory ;  but  the  practice  of  being  shot  is  not  only  dangerous, 
but  painful,  and  human  nature,  at  its  best  estate,  recoils  from 
contact  with  cold  lead,  when  it  comes  at  a  velocity  sufficient 
to  penetrate  the  casement,  and  the  truest  soldier,  in  view  of 
impending  battle,  inwardly  repeats,  "  If  it  be  possible,  let  this 
cup  pass  from  me ;  nevertheless,  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be 
done,  oh,  my  country  !" 

Up  the  steep  mountain-side  rush  the  long  line  of  skirmish 
ers,  now  halting,  as  if  to  hear  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
with  gun  in  hand,  awaiting  his  advance,  and  then  rushing 
forward  to  find  and  uncover  his  masked  position. 


UP  THE  SIDES  OF  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN.  151 

The  duty  of  the  skirmisher  is  a  very  hazardous  one, 
especially  on  such  a  h'eld  as  South  Mountain.  The  side  of  the 
mountain  is  very  steep ;  so  much  so  that  it  was  almost  impos 
sible  to  carry  the  gun  at  a  "  charge,"  as  at  that  angle  the 
bayonet  would  frequently  pierce  the  ground.  The  surface, 
except  here  and  there  a  cornfield,  was  covered  by  a  dense 
growth  of  pine  and  cedar.  The  summit  was  skirted  with 
forests,  and  from  the  wreaths  of  smoke,  and  other  unmistaka 
ble  signs,  it  was  supposed  that  the  rebels  were  here  in  mass. 

General  Hooker,  the  hero  who  afterwards  fought  in  the 
clouds  at  Lookout  Mountain,  was  in  command  of  the  Corps  to 
which  was  attached  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  to  him  had  been 
assigned  the  task  of  storming  the  hill  on  the  right  of  the  pass, 
known  as  Turner's  Gap.  While  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the 
puffs  of  smoke  indicate  a  battle  is  raging,  the  hosts  are  form 
ing  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  for  the  dangerous  attempt  to 
drive  the  enemy  from  the  summit,  if  need  be,  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet.  The  column  is  finally  started.  The  men  have 
been  severely  marched  to-day  ;  it  is  exceedingly  hot,  and  under 
other  circumstances,  rest  and  quiet  would  be  sought ;  but  now 
that  mountain  must  be  cleared  of  the  rebel  hosts ;  those  dark 
woods  which  bellow  and  belch  forth  their  fire  and  iron  hail, 
must  be  carried,  and  the  enemy  punished  for  the  deeds  of  the 
past  month.  Straggling  is  less  frequent  than  usual.  Every 
man  owes  that  rebel  army  a  debt  which  must  now  be  paid, 
and,  regardless  of  fatigue,  up  the  steep  acclivity,  through  the 
corn  and  wheat  fields,  up,  up  goes  the  grand  army.  A  more 
impressive  sight  than  that  witnessed  by  these  troops  as  they 
ascended  the  mountain-side,  is  seldom  or  never  seen.  The 
beautiful,  quiet  and  smiling  valley  behind,  as  it  lay  basking  in 
that  clear  September  sunset,  on  that  lovely  Sabbath  eve,  and 
in  front  the  smoke  and  roar  of  battle. 

As  the  troops  were  halted  to  take  breath,  and  cast  their 


152  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  Y. 

eyes  over  the  quiet  loveliness  of  the  valley  below,  they  thought 
of  the  loved  ones  at  home,  who,  this  beautiful  Sabbath  after 
noon,  were  doubtless  penning  letters  to  them — letters  which, 
perhaps,  might  never  reach  them,  and  then  the  order,  "  for 
ward,"  placed  before  them  the  contrast,  which  made  them  for  the 
time  forget  that  this  was  the  Sabbath  day,  and  on  they  went 
to  the  deadly  conflict.  For  an  hour  and  a  half  was  the  Regi 
ment  thus  engaged  in  ascending  this  mountain,  before  it  came 
within  range  of  the  enemy's  musketry  fire.  As  the  Brigade 
rieared  the  summit,  the  firing  became  more  distinct,  until  the 
troops  entered  the  last  skirt  of  forest  that  crowned  the  sum 
mit.  Before  entering  this  wood,  a  halt  was  made  and 
bayonets  fixed,  and  thus  prepared  for  any  emergency,  forward 
into  the  treacherous  woods  moved  the  intrepid  Corps. 

The  Brigade  occupied  the  left  of  the  Division,  and  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  the  extreme  left  of  the  Brigade ;  so  that  the  left 
flank  of  the  Regiment  was  uncovered.  On  the  right  of  the 
Seventy-sixth  was  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania.  Through 
the  woods  came  the  rebel  bullets,  tearing  the  trees  and  shriek 
ing  overhead,  while  just  ahead  came  the  cheers  and  yells  of 
the  opposing  troops,  and  the  awful  din  of  battle  in  all  its  fury. 

Hatch's  Brigade  of  King's  Division  had  preceded  Double- 
day's  Brigade,  and  was  now  heavily  engaged.  As  our 
Brigade  entered  the  wood,  the  Adjutant  of  the  First  Brigade 
came  rushing  out  of  the  noise  and  confusion,  shouting:— 

"  Our  Brigade  cannot  sustain  itself  much  longer,  as  we  are 
nearly  out  of  ammunition !  For  God's  sake,  to  the  front !" 

On  rushed  Doubleday's  Brigade,  only  impeded  by  the  staff 
officers,  who  rode  in  front,  and  continually  along  the  line  gave 
the  order,  "  Steady,  boys,  steady !"  The  upper  edge  of  the 
woods  was  soon  gained,  and  there  was  witnessed  fighting  in 
good  earnest.  The  wood  wras  bounded  by  a  fence,  close  by 
which  Hatch's  Brigade  stood  fighting  as  though  the  fate  of  the 


BATTLE  OF  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN.  153 

country  depended  upon  their  heroic  conduct.  There  was  an 
open  space  of  a  hundred  feet  beyond  the  fence,  filled  with 
rebels,  who,  hiding  behind  rocks,  and  in  depressions  of  the 
surface,  poured  volley  after  volley  into  Hatch's  Brigade, 
which,  in  turn,  fell  upon  the  ground  to  load,  then  arose  and 
returned  the  deadly  salute.  While  thus  heroically  contesting 
the  ground,  Doubleday's  Brigade  rushed  with  a  shout  to  their 
rescue.  Hatch's  Brigade  fell  back  for  rest,  while  the  Seventy- 
sixth  and  its  fellows  poured  their  deadly  hail  upon  the  enemy. 
Charge  after  charge  was  made  by  the  rebels,  to  break  through 
the  Union  lines,  but  each  one  was  handsomely  repulsed,  and 
thus  for  half  an  hour  this  Brigade  stood  its  ground  against 
vastly  superior  numbers,  conscious  that  if  the  line  was  broken, 
with  no  reserves  on  which  to  rely,  the  defeat  would  prove 
annihilation. 

Charles  E.  Stamp,  of  Company  A,  who  was  promoted  to 
color-bearer  for  gallantry  in  saving  the  colors  at  Gainesville, 
was  carrying  the  colors  on  this  occasion.  As  the  Regiment 
was  ordered  to  advance,  not  obeying  quite  as  promptly  as  this 
hero  desired,  he  rushed  forward  about  a  rod  in  advance  of  the 
Regiment,  while  the  bullets  were  falling  thickly  around  him, 
and,  planting  the  flag  staff  firmly  in  the  ground,  shouted, 
"  There,  come  up  to  that !"  But  he  made  too  good  a  mark, 
and  before  the  Regiment  had  time  to  obey  the  order,  a  fatal 
ball  pierced  his  forehead,  and  "  Charley  Stamp,"  one  of  the 
truest  and  best  men  in  the  Regiment,  was  mustered  out  of  the 
army  militant,  and  mustered  into  the  army  triumphant. 

The  Seventy-sixth  was  probably  never  engaged  in  a  more 
severe  and  deadly  fight  than  at  South  Mountain.  During  the 
whole  battle,  the  range  was  so  short,  and  both  sides  fired  with 
such  precision,  that  the  volleys  told  with  awful  effect.  Colo 
nel  Wainwright  coolly  rode  along  the  line  and  directed  the 
men  to  fire  low ;  and  never  was  powder  and  ball  rammed  into 


154  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

guns  with  greater  energy,  or  discharged  with  greater  rapidity, 
or  more  damaging  effect. 

The  enemy,  finding  that  bayonet  charges  on  their  part 
would  be  of  no  avail  against  the  steady  lines  of  the  Union 
forces,  resorted  to  one  of  those  tricks  which,  in  every  battle 
thus  far,-  had  been  attempted  upon  our  Regiment.  A  small 
thicket  of  bushes  ran  along  parallel  with  and  not  more  than 
ten  or  fifteen  rods  from  the  fence  behind  which  was  posted 
the  Seventy-sixth.  The  order  was  given  to  fire  into  this 
thicket,  when  the  cry  came  out  :— 

"  For  God's  sake,  stop  firing !  You  are  killing  your  own  men  P 
General  Hatch,  now  in  command  of  the  Division,  happened 
to  be  near  by,  and-ordered  the  firing  to  cease,  which  was  obeyed, 
though  the  men  were  well  satisfied  it  was  a  repetition  of  the  ruse 
played  at  Gainesville  and  Bull  Run.  Scarcely  had  the  firing- 
ceased  when  two  regiments  of  the  enemy,  the  Eighteenth  and 
Nineteenth  Virginia,  came  out  silently  and  swiftly,  marching 
by  the  left  flank,  then,  suddenly  fronting,  advanced  within 
twenty  paces  of  our  left,  kneeled  down  and  poured  a  most  ter 
rific  volley  into  our  ranks.  Fortunately  the  dark  back  ground 
of  the  woods  prevented  them  from  seeing  our  men  clearly, 
and  their  aim  was  mostly  too  high.  Eighteen  or  twenty  of 
our  men,  however,  fell,  among  them  Colonel  "Wainwright,  who 
was  wounded  in  the  arm.  His  favorite  horse  was  killed  about 
the  same  time.  Quickly  rising  and  tying  a  handkerchief 
around  his  arm  where  the  ball  entered,  he  gave  the  order  to 
fire,  at  the  same  time  discharging  the  six  barrels  of  his 
revolver  at  the  enemy.  The  remnant  of  those  two  rebel  reg 
iments  will  never  forget  that  volley  !  They  were  so  near  that 
the  blaze  of  our  guns  almost  reached  their  faces,  and  when 
the  smoke  of  the  volley  had  cleared  away,  the  sight  was  truly 
appalling.  The  rebel  dead  were  literally  piled  in  heaps,  and 
among  them  was  Colonel  Strange,  of  the  Nineteenth  Virginia, 


GALLANT  REPULSE  OF  A  FLANK  ATTACK.  155 

while  the  remainder,  who  had  escaped,  were  rushing  in  wild 
disorder  to  their  cover  in  the  thicket. 

There  was  a  lull  in  the  battle.  By  the  blunder  of  a  staff 
officer,  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  another  regiment  of  the  Brigade 
were  ordered  to  fall  back  about  a  mile,  while  they  were  re 
lieved  by  other  troops.  As  they  were  about  obeying,  Captain 
Goddard,  of  Company  F,  called  the  attention  of  Colonel 
Wainwright  to  something  moving  in  a  cornfield  on  the  left. 
It  was  soon  decided  to  be  the  enemy,  engaged  in  a  flanking 
movement.  Changing  front  to  the  rear,  always  a  very  diffi 
cult  manoeuver  during  an  engagement,  the  Seventy-sixth  New 
York,  and  a  portion  of  the  Seventh  Indiana,  which  was  on 
the  right,  met  the  rebels  with  such  a  fire  as  completely  and 
definitely  changed  their  purpose.  So  well  was  the  effect  of 
the  gallant  repulse  of  this  flank  movement  understood  in  the 
army,  and  by  the  commanding  generals,  that  General  McClel- 
lan  honorably  mentions  the  Seventy-sixth  in  his  report  of  the 
campaign. 

The  Seventy-sixth  was  at  this  point  relieved,  though  the 
order  of  the  staff  officer  relieving,  was  soon  after  counter 
manded.  The  ground  was  very  rough,  but  the  Regiment  fell 
back  with  great  steadiness.  This  was  the  last  determined 
attempt  of  the  enemy  at  South  Mountain.  Colonel  Wain- 
wright,  despite  his  wound,  which  was  quite  severe,  was 
almost  in  ecstacies,  as  he  addressed  his  fragment  of  a  Re«i- 

/  C5  "       O 

inent  upon  their  soldierly  bearing  and  heroic  deeds  in  this 
battle,  lie  seemed  at  a  loss  for  words  to  express  his  gratitude 
to  them,  and  his  sense  of  the  value  of  their  services  in  defeat 
ing  these  repeated  attempts  to  flank  the  army,  and  which,  if 
accomplished,  would  have  lost  to  us  the  important  battle  of 
South  Mountain. 

During  this  battle,  General  Hatch,  in  command  of  the 
Division,  was  severely  wounded,  and  General  Doubleday  took 
command  of  the  Division. 


156  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  E".  Y.  Y. 

It  had  now  become  so  dark  that  neither  side  could  see  the 
other,  and  our  men  only  aimed  at  the  flashes  of  the  rebel 
muskets,  and  these  soon  ceased.  The  order  was  given  to  the 
Brigade  to  cease  firing.  Xo  one  knew  the  position  or  strength 
of  the  enemy  in  front,  so  advance  would  be  worse  than  folly  ; 
and  there  stood  our  men,  silently  and  grimly,  at  the  fence, 
while  several  minutes  of  silence  ensued.  All  was  still  as  though 
no  battle  had  been  raging,  except  now  and  then  a  groan  from 
the  wounded,  or  the  sound  of  a  rammer,  as  it  sent  down  the 
ball  for  the  next  discharge.  This  silence  was  of  short  dura 
tion.  Just  as  our  men  were  congratulating  themselves  that 
this  battle  was  over,  the  rebels,  thinking  that  our  troops  had 
retreated,  rushed  forward  towards  the  fence,  at  the  same  time 
pouring  in  a  volley  of  musketry.  The  fire  was  too  high  to 
cause  any  damage,  though  the  balls  tearing  through  the  trees, 
and  bringing  down  a  shower  of  twigs  and  leaves,  plainly  told 
what  havoc  a  better  aim  would  have  inflicted.  Our  men 
were  prepared  to  meet  them,  and  they  were  compelled  to  fall 
back  before  the  fire  of  our  line. 

The  firing  had  nearly  ceased.  Our  Division,  relieved  by 
General  Rickett's,  was  drawn  up  in  line,  as  if  for  a  review, 
and  our  Brigade  ordered  to  lie  down  on  their  arms  about  a 
hundred  feet  from  the  fence,  ready  for  a  night  attack,  which 
seemed  probable.  For  a  time  the  firing  was  heard  on  the  left, 
now  coming  nearer,  bringing  the  sad  indication  that  our  men 
were  being  driven,  and  then  receding,  showing  us  to  be  victo 
rious,  until  it  finally  ceased,  and  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain  was  a  recorded  victory  to  the  Union  arms. 

We  have  not  the  report  of  the  losses  of  the  Seventy-sixth  in 
this  battle,  but  something  of  an  idea  can  be  formed  of  the 
severity  of  the  conflict  in  which  they  took  so  conspicuous  a 
part,  when  we  state  that  in  this  contest  for  the  possession  of 
Turner's  Gap,  the  loss  on  our  part,  along,  the  whole  line,  was 


PATRIOTISM  OF  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH.  157 

three  hundred  and  twenty-eight  killed,  and  fourteen  hundred 
and  sixty-three  wounded. 

Colonel  Wainwright  was  forced,  in  consequence  of  his 
wound,  to  leave  the  Regiment,  to  rejoin  it  at  "Warrenton  some 
seven  weeks  afterwards. 

Whatever  we  may  think  of  General  McClellan's  course  at 
Alexandria,  in  failing  to  reinforce  General  Pope,  the  people 
will  give  him  credit  for  the  skill  with  which  he  handled  the 
disorganized  troops  of  both  his  and  Pope's  defeated  armies, 
and  while  on  the  march  after  the  retreating  enemy,  so  organ 
ized  them  as  to  win  a  victory,  at  such  great  disadvantage,  over 
the  victorious  army  of  Lee. 

For  the  proper  organization  of  an  army,  General  McClellan 
had  few,  if  any,  equals.  His  chief  fault  consisted  in  the  kid- 
glove  style  in  which  he  fought  them  after  they  were  organized ; 
or,  perhaps,  more  properly  speaking,  the  hesitating  manner  in 
which  he  marched  them  to  the  fight. 

The  Seventy-sixth  always  enjoyed  the  proud  consciousness 
that  the  Regiment  was  composed  of  the  very  best  material. 
The  men,  for  the  most  part,  went  to  war  from  patriotic 
motives  ;  they  were  led  by  gallant  and  brave  officers,  and  these 
facts  gave  them  self-confidence.  But  to  this  had  been  added 
that  drill  which,  for  the  last  two  or  three  months,  had  been 
disciplining  and  giving  tone  to  their  naturally  patriotic  char 
acters,  until  no  Regiment  in  the  field  stood  higher  in  soldierly 
qualities. 

Charles  E.  Stamp  was  but  a  sample.  Colonel  Wainwright, 
after  this  heroic  fighting,  might  well  afford  to  say  he  felt  proud 
to  command  such  a  regiment. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  men  who  fight  for  principle  are 
more  to  be  depended  upon  in  circumstances  calculated  to  test 
the  heroism  of  men,  than  those  who  are  fighting  simply  for 
pay,  or  to  serve  a  period  of  enlistment  into  which  they  were 


158  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

induced  to  enter  by  large  bounties  offered,  or  to  avoid  conscrip 
tion.  This  was  well  shown  by  comparison  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth,  as  a  sample,  and  the  regiments  that  entered  the  service 
in  ISG-i.  Of  the  latter  there  were  some  good  regiments  ;  but 
in  the  main  they  consisted  of  men  who  could  about  as  easily  have 
been  bought  by  a  large  bounty  from  the  enemy ;  and  one-half 
of  the  number  enlisted,  either  deserted  before  reaching  the 
field,  or  proved  "  dead  beats  "  after  arriving  there. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

AFTER  TUB  BATTLE  or  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN— DECIDED  UNION  VICTORY— APPEARANCE  OF 
TUB  BATTLE  FIELD— PURSUING  THE  REBELS— BEN  VAN  VALKENBURG  CAPTURES 
NINE  PRISONERS— BATTLE  OF  ANTIET AM— TERRIBLE  SLAUGHER— ANOTHER  VICTORY- 
DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  FIELD  AFTER  THE  BATTLE— FAILURE  TO  REAP  THE  GOLDEN  HAR 
VEST. 

September  15t/i. — This  day  lias  revealed  the  horrors  of  last 
night's  work.  Neither  side  then  knew  the  extent  of  the  injury 
it  was  inflicting  upon  the  other ;  but  to-day,  the  Union  army 
has  before  it  the  results  of  the  battle  in  all  their  terrible 
reality.  When  the  gray  morning  broke  in  the  east,  and  the 
men  of  the  Seventy-sixth  arose  from  their  earthy  bed,  there 
at  the  rail  fence,  as  though  they  were  statuary,  stood  Eickett's 
Division,  guns  loaded,  bayonets  fixed,  ready  for  a  repetition 
of  last  night's  assaults.  Thus  had  they  stood  all  night,  mo 
mentarily  expecting  the  attack,  but  it  came  not ;  and  now,  as 
the  light  revealed  the  field,  no  rebel  army  was  to  be  seen. 
Before  them,  however,  were  spread  the  unmistakable  evidences 
of  the  deadly  volleys  which  the  Seventy-sixth  and  their  com 
rades  had  poured  into  the  rebel  ranks.  The  dead  lay  thickly 
scattered,  in  some  instances  piled  one  upon  another,  over  the 
field.  So  closely  had  the  enemy  approached  our  lines,  in  their 
desperate  charges,  that  more  than  thirty  of  their  dead  lay 
within  ten  paces  of  the  fence  which  had  marked  the  boundary 
of  the  Union  advance.  The  men  were  not  long  in  venturing 
over  into  this  bivouac  of  rebel  dead.  Here  lay  a  poor  fellow 


160  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K.  Y.  Y. 

with  his  head  upon  Iris  arm,  and  his  eyes  closed  as  though  in 
sleep ;  here  another,  with  gun  clenched  fast  in  his  hand,  and  a 
determined  look  still  upon  his  face ;  there,  where  the  fire  had 
been  more  deadly,  lay  several,  the  one  across  the  other,  as  if 
the  heat  of  battle  had  melted  a  battalion,  and  they  had  all 
fallen.  It  was  a  sickening  sight,  as  they  lay  with  their  eyes, 
as  they  were  for  the  most  part,  open  and  staring  toward 
heaven.  All  animosity,  at  such  a  time,  yields  to  the  better 
impulses  of  our  nature,  and  we  wonder  how  it  is  that  man  can 
lift  his  hand  to  slay  his  brother.  We  forget  the  cause  of  the 
strife,  and,  as  we  contemplate  these  faces,  and  think  of  their 
darlings  who  will  never  again  behold  them,  till  they  meet  on 
the  other  shore,  we  involuntarily  drop  a  tear  for  the  misguided 
men  we  killed  but  yesterday. 

In  the  foremost  of  the  fight  lay  Colonel  Strange,  of  the 
Nineteenth  Virginia.  Evidently  a  man  of  character,  he  had 
died  as  any  brave  man  could  wish  to,  if  die  he  must,— in  the 
front,  with  his  face  to  his  foes.  His  death  had  evidently  been 
instantaneous,  for  he  still  held  in  his  hand  the  sword  which  he 
was  swinging  at  the  time  when  death  summoned  him  to  his 
final  account,  while  on  his  countenance  was  depicted  that 
stern  determination  to  succeed  which  had  brought  him  so  near 
our  lines.  Nor  was  he  alone  in  Iris  determination  to  pierce 
the  Union  lines,  for  a  few  feet  to  his  left  lay  another  officer, 
and  still  further  on,  a  young  lieutenant,  whose  intelligent  and 
even  handsome  countenance  attracted  general  attention. 

(i  Poor  fellows  !"  our  men  could  but  exclaim. 

What  a  lesson  is  this  for  all  future  time  !  What  an  awful 
reckoning  is  in  reserve  for  those  who,  for  ambitious,  unholy 
ends,  when  the  country  was  at  peace,  and  prosperity  spread 
her  mantle  over  the  whole  land,  could  thus  foment  discord, 
and,  with  nothing  to  settle  except  the  consciousness  that  they 
were  oppressing  three  million  human  beings,  could  call  the 


AFTER  THE  BATTLE  OF  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN.          1G1 

sword  from  its  scabbard  to  thus  inflict  ruin  and  destruction  upon 
themselves !  Surely,  "  whom  the  gods  destroy,  they  first  make 
mad."  These  men  who  now  lie  with  their  faces  upturned, 
came  not  here  for  love  of  war,  nor  to  redress  any  real  griev 
ances,  but  because  stimulated  and  urged  forward  by  the  few 
leading  spirits,  whose  custom  it  had  long  been  to  rule  the 
South ;  controlling  the  political,  social  and  religious  organiza 
tions,  and  arrogating  to  themselves  the  intelligence  and  moral 
worth  of  that  section.  Those  men,  and  not  these  slain,  are 
responsible  for  all  this  havoc.  Many  of  these  dead  were  never 
induced  to  enter  the  service ;  but  were  actually  conscripted  to 
fight  for  an  institution  in  which  they  had  no  interest,  and  for 
which  they  had  no  respect. 

One  of  our  men  venturing  further  than  his  comrades,  dis 
covered  a  long,  gaunt  "  gray-back,"  about  seventeen  years  of 
age,  concealed  behind  a  stump,  without  weapons.  On  finding 
himself  discovered,  he  leaped  forward,  exclaiming,  "Don't 
shoot !  Don't  shoot !  I'm  your  prisoner."  He  was  taken 
before  the  General,  and  there  satisfied  every  one  who  heard 
his  child-like  story,  that  he  never  voluntarily  entered  the  ser 
vice.  He  detailed  the  manner  in  which  he  had  been 
conscripted,  drilled,  and  finally  brought  up  this  mountain  to 
be  shot  at,  and  concluded  as  follows  : — 

"  I  told  'em  I  was  a  coward  and  couldn't  fight,  but  they 
drove  me  up  here,  where  I  came  near  being  killed ;  so  I 
dropped,  and  crawled  behind  a  stump  and  waited  there  all 
night." 

This  was  no  solitary  instance  in  which  the  cradle  was  robbed 
to  furnish  recruits  for  the  rebel  army. 

In  the  cornfield  where  the  Seventy-sixth  repulsed  the  last 
attempted  flank  movement,  the  rebel  dead  were  literally  piled 
in  heaps.  Our  loss  was  much  less,  but  the  sight  there  was 
indeed  very  sad.  The  dead  heroes  were  gathered  together 


162  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

and  ranged  in  rows,  side  by  side,  each  regiment  by  itself,  that 
so  far  as  possible,  their  comrades  and  acquaintances  should 
perform  for  them  the  simple  and  sad  rites  of  burial  upon  the 
battle-field.  No  sermon  was  delivered  ;  no  hymn  sung ;  no 
salute  fired,  and  no  coffin,  not  even  the  plain  box,  enclosed 
their  remains ;  but  a  trench  was  dug,  the  blankets  wrapped 
around  the  dead,  and  they  were  covered  from  the  sight  of 
{.heir  sorrowing  comrades. 

This  battle  was  one  of  the  most  decisive  Union  victories  of 
the  war.  The  rebels,  utterly  routed,  ran  in  wild  confusion  down 
the  mountain  side,  throwing  away  their  guns,  knapsacks,  and 
whatever  tended  to  impede  their  progress.  Had  night  been 
delayed  two  hours  longer,  the  whole  rebel  army  must  una 
voidably  have  been  captured  or  annihilated ;  for  when 
darkness  closed  the  battle,  the  Union  army  had  surrounded 
the  rebels  on  three  sides,  with  but  one  possible  way  of  retreat, 
and  that  was  through  a  narrow  ravine,  which  the  batteries 
could  easily  have  rendered  impassable.  As  it  was,  night  fur 
nished  a  means  of  escape  which  was  well  improved. 

Our  fragment  of  a  Brigade  was  now  permitted  to  light 
fires  and  make  coffee.  The  hard  tack  and  coffee  were  hardly 
disposed  of,  before  orders  were  received  to  march.,  towards 
Boonesborough.  The  wounded  were  placed  in  ambulances 
and  sent  back  to  Frederick,  wrhile  the  able-bodied  went  for 
ward,  this  time  in  search  of  their  retreating  foe. 

To  follow  a  retreating  foe  has  a  much  better  effect  upon  an 
army,  than  to  retreat  before  a  victorious  enemy.  The  last 
month  had  verified  this.  While  coming  from  Gainesville  and 
Bull  Run,  the  men  attempted  to  keep  cheerful ;  but  they 
could  not  rid  themselves  of  the  fact  that  they  had  been  beaten 
and  were  retreating.  Now,  as  they  went  forward,  their  jokes 
and  merry  laughter  plainly  told  of  the  change  that  had  come 
over  them.  Nothing  is  so  exhilarating  to  the  soldier,  as  an 
occasional  victory. 


BEN.  VAN  VALKENBtiKG^s  RAID.  163 

The  country  was  filled  with  rebel  stragglers,  and  though 
many  were  driven  in  at  the  point  of  the  sabre,  by  the  rebel 
cavalry,  very  many  fell  into  our  hands. 

An  incident  connected  with  one  of  the  men  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth,  while  it  furnishes  a  sample  of  the  courage  and  Yankee 
ingenuity  prevalent  in  the  Regiment,  also  illustrates  the 
demoralized  condition  of  the  rebel  army : — Benjamin  Yan 
Yalkenburg,  a  corporal  in  Company  I,  had  been  detailed  as 
orderly  at  the  headquarters  of  General  Doubleday.  As  the 
Division  moved  down  the  mountain,  the  day  following  the 
battle,  "  Ben."  descried  a  fine  farm  house  a  mile  or  so  distant, 
and  visions  of  chickens  and  other  contraband,  induced  him 
to  gallop  on  ahead  of  the  column,  until  he  found  himself  in 
advance  of  the  front  line  of  skirmishers.  On  entering  the 
yard,  lie  rode  around  the  house,  intent  on  striking  some  sort  of 
a  bargain  for  as  much  poultry  as  would  be  required  by  the 
General's  mess,  including  the  orderlies,  when,  instead  of  the 
smiling  face  of  the  housewife,  he  suddenly  confronted  seven 
stalwart  rebel  soldiers  sitting  on  the  porch,  with  rifles  danger 
ously  convenient.  The  rebels  stared  at  Ben.,  who  returned 
the  compliment.  To  use  his  own  expression,  he  felt "  mightily 
scared ;"  but  to  run  was  to  receive  seven  rebel  bullets  in  the 
back,  and  that  was  a  portion  of  Ben.'s  body  which  could  not 
with  his  consent  be  thus  desecrated.  Summoning  all  his 
courage,  he  drew  his  revolver,  dashed  resolutely  up  to  the 
rebels  and  ordered  them  to  surrender !  All  threw  down  their 
arms  save  one,  who  swore  he  would  never  surrender  for  any 
Yankee.  Ben.  leveled  his  six-shooter  at  the  head  of  the  diso 
bedient  rebel,  and  gave  him  half  a  minute  to  make  up  his 
mind.  "With,  a  bitter  oath,  down  went  his  gun,  also.  "  Fall 
in  !"  shouted  Ben.  The  first  impulse  of  his  undrilled  battal 
ion  was  to  disobey  orders ;  but  all  demurring  wras  silenced  by 
a  nourish  of  the  revolver.  Ben.  had  not  failed  to  observe  that 


164:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  !N".  Y.  Y. 

officers  on  horses  ride  behind  their  commands,  and  in  this 
particular  case  it  was  a  safe  position.  Having  formed  his  line, 
the  order  was  given,  "  Forward,  inarch  !"  As  they  passed  out 
through  the  gate,  they  met  two  other  rebels,  well  armed. 
Our  commandant  ordered  them  to  "  fall  in  !"  Supposing  the 
squad  to  be  Union  skirmishers,  they  readily  obeyed,  and  a 
short  march  brought  the  Corporal,  with  his  nine  prisoners,  to 
the  Division  commander.  General  Doubleday  was  so  pleased 
with  this  daring  act,  that  he  offered  Van  Valkenburg  a  com 
mission  ;  but  his  reply  was  as  full  of  genuine  simplicity  and 
honesty,  as  his  achievement  had  been  of  heroism  and  cour 
age  :— 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  General,"  said  the  Corporal, 
"  but  I  am  uneducated  and  unfitted  for  an  office.  I  came 
here  to  fight,  and  that  I  am  willing  to  do." 

The  General  declared  himself  honored  by  association  with 
men  of  such  modest  courage,  and  ever  afterwards  Ben.  was  a 
favorite  at  Division  headquarters. 

Nothing  occurred  to  impede  the  progress  of  the  Union  army 
in  their  hunt  for  the  rebels,  nntil  the  sixteenth  of  September. 
Towards  evening  of  that  day,  the  skirmishers  reported  the 
enemy  in  the  vicinity  of  Antietam  Creek.  The  Brigade  con 
tinued  its  march  until  after  dark,  when  it  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  Pickets  were  thrown  out  in  advance  of  the  regiments, 
and  the  remainder  lay  down  for  a  night's  rest. 

In  the  morning,  as  it  became  sufficiently  light  to  clearly 
distinguish  objects,  the  pickets  of  the  Seventy-sixth  found  the 
rebel  pickets  so  near  that  they  might  almost,  in  some  instances, 
shake  hands.  The  position  wras  a  delicate  one  for  both  sides  ; 
but  by  mutual  consent,  due  deference  was  paid  to  their  short 
acquaintance  as  individuals  and  no  picket  firing  was  indulged 
in  by  either  side.  The  Seventy-sixth  lay  behind  a  fence  in  a 
depression  of  the  earth,  on  the  Ilagerstown  pike.  A  state  of 


BATTLE  OF  ANTIETAM.  165 

inaction  was  not,  however,  long  indulged  in.  Shortly  after 
daylight,  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  by  the  rebel  artillery,  occu 
pying  a  little  eminence  about  half  a  mile  distant.  Our 
artillery  was  soon  brought  to  a  small  elevation  about  forty 
rods  in  rear  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  from  daylight  until 
about  ten  o'clock,  a  brisk  artillery  duel  was  carried  on  over 
the  heads  of  our  men.  Usually  the  balls  and  shells  passed 
harmlessly  over  their  heads ;  but  now  arid  then  a  shell  with  an 
improper  fuse  would  burst  in  quite  too  close  proximity  for  the 
enjoyment  of  the  men ;  and  occasionally  a  ball  fired  at  too 
small  an  elevation,  and  falling  short  of  its  intended  object, 
would  plow  up  the  soil,  scattering  the  dust  and  stones  promis 
cuously  over  the  Regiment. 

This  being  placed  between  the  fires  of  two  armies,  while  it 
is  very  exciting,  is  too  much  like  holding  an  apple  upon  one's 
head,  to  be  shot  off  as  a  target.  The  marksman  may  be  ordi 
narily  correct  in  his  aim,  but  the  position  of  the  man  under 
fire  is  more  a  post  of  honor  than  enjoyment. 

The  Seventy-sixth  had,  however,  proved  its  courage  under 
much  more  severe  tests  than  this,  and  to  one  unaccustomed  to 
such  scenes,  their  indifference  wras  truly  remarkable. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  Regiment  was  ordered  to  the  right  to 
support  a  battery.  The  enemy,  at  this  point,  was  protected  by 
a  piece  of  woods,  and  a  stone  wall  running  along  in  front, 
while  the  Union  battery  and  its  supports  were  entirely  unpro 
tected.  The  Regiment  was  not  under  infantry  fire  at  this 
battle. 

About  four  P.  M.,  Lieutenant  Byram  was  sent  about  half  a 
mile,  with  Company  A,  to  watch  the  enemy  and  check  his 
advance  from  a  certain  direction.  'No  enemy,  however,  made 
his  appearance.  Two  of  the  men  visited  an  adjacent  farm 
house  and  procured  a  large  quantity  of  fresh  bread  and  sweet 
butter,  and  Company  A  enjoyed  a  feast  near  the  battle-field, 


166  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  E".  Y.  Y. 

which,  for  a  time,  diverted  their  minds  from  the  dangers 
which  surrounded  them.  That  night  the  men  slept  upon  their 
arms,  expecting  a  renewal  of  the  fight  the  next  morning.  The 
men  stood  by  their  guns,  momentarily  expecting  the  opening 
of  the  fight,  but  it  came  not,  and  soon  it  was  found  that  the 
enemy  had  again  retreated  during  the  night. 

By  military  men,  Antietam  is  considered  as  one  of  the  most 
scientific  battles  of  the  war.  Surely,  if  the  destruction  of 
your  enemy  is  a  mark  of  science,  this  battle  is  held  in  due 
appreciation.  The  fighting,  as  a  whole,  was  truly  terrific. 
Standing  upon  an  eminence,  and  taking  in  the  whole  battle 
field  at  one  view,  as  we  look  upon  a  vast  picture,  the  sight  was 
magnificent,  if  that  word  may  be  applied  to  the  awful  carnage 
of  a  closely  contested  battle,  where  a  stern  determination  to 
win  a  victory  is  displayed  on  both  sides.  From  every  hillock 
in  this  vast  extent  of  uneven  landscape,  came  the  puffs  and 
wreaths  of  smoke,  showing  the  location  of  the  batteries  of 
artillery  and  regiments  of  infantry.  For  several  miles  the 
earth  trembled  as  the  battalions  belched  forth  their  terrible 
tliunderSj  while  an  unceasing  rattle  of  musketry  filled  the  in 
tervals.  Soon  out  from  this  field  of  fire,  and  smoke,  and 
thunderings  came  the  sad  evidences  of  the  awful  work  there 
going  forward.  First,  an  occasional  wounded  man,  and  then 
they  became  more  frequent,  until  towards  noon  a  continual 
stream  of  wounded  and  dying  poured  to  the  rear.  Some  with 
broken  arms ;  others  limping  along  ;  while  others,  unable  to 
move,  were  brought  in  on  stretchers  or  in  ambulances,  or  in 
the  arms  of  their  companions,  covered  with  blood,  and  many 
already  in  the  last  agonies.  The  sight  was  a  heart-sickening 
one,  and  one  which,  under  other  circumstances,  would  have 
been  unendurable ;  but  in  war,  bloodshed  and  carnage  are  ex 
pected,  and  one  comes  to  look  upon  them  as  a.  matter  of 
course. 


DESOLATIONS  OF  WAK.  167 

On  the  seventeenth  the  Regiment  was  engaged  all  day  sup 
porting  a  battery,  so  that  it  did  not  share  very  largely  in  the 
light.  Several,  however,  were  wounded. 

During  the  battle,  General  Hooker  received  a  painful  wround, 
which  compelled  him  to  withdraw  from  the  field.  This  wras  a 
great  loss  at  this  time,  for  General  Hooker  was  a  fighting  man, 
and  to  him  more,  perhaps,  than  any  other  one  man  is  due  the 
honor  of  the  Union  victory  at  Antietam. 

The  enemy  having  retreated,  the  battle-field,  which  had 
been  so  closely  contested  foot  by  foot,  remained  in  our  posses 
sion.  The  enemy  carried  off  all  except  the  more  severely 
wounded ;  yet  the  scenes  of  the  battle-field  were  most  sicken 
ing  the  next  morning.  For  miles  where  the  battle  had  raged 
most  fiercely,  the  ground  was  covered  with  dead  officers,  sol 
diers  and  horses,  while  guns,  knapsacks,  haversacks,  canteens, 
and  all  the  other  implements  of  warfare,  were  thickly  sprinkled 
over  the  field.  In  many  places,  the  field  had  been  taken  and 
retaken  several  times,  so  that  with  the  gray  backs  were  often 
mingled  the  "  boys  in  blue." 

Before  this  battle,  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  was  fought, 
had  been  an  interesting  farming  community.  But  a  fortnight 
before,  it  had  been  dotted  over  with  farm-houses  filled  with 
happy  families,  while  the  goddess  of  peace  and  plenty  was 
about  to  fulfill  her  golden  promises.  The  barns  were  already 
stored  with  hay  and  the  earlier  grains,  while  the  large  and 
luxuriant  cornfields,  and  fields  of  later  grains,  and  extensive 
orchards,  bending  with  their  rich  loads  of  apples  and  peaches, 
spoke  cheerfully  of  pleasant  evenings  around  the  domestic 
firesides.  In  the  midst  of  this  little  Eden  valley,  was  the 
well-attended  brick  church,  from  which  the  light  of  Christian 
ity  had  radiated  until  meeting  the  rays  of  similar  influences, 
they  had  nearly  obliterated  the  last  traces  of  human  slavery. 
But  how  severely  had  this  beautiful  valley  suffered.  The 


168  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  IS".  Y.  V. 

horses  and  hungry  soldiers  had  eaten  up  the  cornfields  and 
cereals.  The  fruit  had  been  prematurely  plucked.  Every 
house,  barn  and  outbuilding  had  been  pierced  by  the  shot  and 
shells  of  the  contending  hosts ;  and  now,  the  day  after  the 
battle,  not  a  family  remains  in  that  recently  so  densely  popu 
lated  region.  The  little  church  standing  by  the  roadside  in 
an  important  position,  seems  to  have  been  the  focal  point 
where  the  wrath  of  the  contending  armies  met,  for  a  hundred 
cannon  solid-shot  have  pierced  it,  while  thousands  of  bullets 
have  marred  its  sacred  walls.  In  this  church,  lying  upon  its 
hard  benches,  are  many  of  the  enemy,  more  severely  wounded, 
one  of  whom,  in  delirium,  is  raving  like  a  madman  :  but  for 
the  most  part  they  bear  their  fate  with  remarkable  resignation. 
Can  it  be  they  believe  they  are  dying  to  uphold  or  perpetuate 
any  great  moral  principle  ?  Charity  compels  us  to  believe  it ; 
but  the  belief  impeaches  their  oft-repeated  claims  to  superior 
intelligence. 

For  two  days  our  army  was  actively  engaged  in  burying  the 
dead.  Long  trenches  were  dug,  into  which  they  were  piled, 
and  to-day  thousands  sleep  their  last  sleep  on  that  fated 
field,  while  those  who  held  them  most  dear,  will  visit  in  vain 
their  final  resting-place,  in  hope  of  finding  some  mark  by 
which  they  may  identify  the  spot  sacred  to  them  as  the  home 
of  their  cherished  dead. 

Several  days'  rest  was  now  given  to  the  Union  army,  to  re 
cruit  from  the  effects  of  the  last  two  severe  struggles.  The 
enemy  had  been  severely  repulsed — sent  headlong  down  the 
western  slope  of  South  Mountain,  to  be  again  defeated  and 
driven  from  the  field  at  Antietam,  and  everybody  prophesied, 
both  in  the  army  and  out  of  it,  that  the  enemy  would  be  driven 
into  the  Totomac,  or  captured,  and  at  the  lapse  of  this  brief 
period  of  time,  no  one  can  doubt  that  a  vigorous  movement 
upon  our  part  would  have  accomplished  the  one  or  the  other 


HALTING.  160 

of  these  desirable  results.  For  some  reason,  the  Union  army 
halted  on  the  very  threshold  of  its  successes,  and  the  disor 
ganized  rebel  army  was  permitted  to  recross  the  Potomac,  to 
choose  again  its  own  field  for  defensive  warfare. 

While  the  army  thus  rested,  large  numbers  swarmed  from 
the  North  in  search  of  friends  who  had  fallen  in  battle. 
Daily  funeral  processions  marched  along  the  Hagerstown  pike, 
bearing,  for  burial  in  their  Northern  cemeteries,  the  caskets 
that  so  lately  contained  those  manly  spirits  which,  as  fathers, 
sons  and  brothers,  these  mourning  pilgrims  had  so  highly 
prized.  It  was,  indeed,  a  mournful  sight ;  but  they  had  not 
died  in  vain.  The  rebel  invaders  had  been  hurled  from  the 
soil  of  loyal  Maryland,  and  the  North  was  thus  protected  from 
the  ravaging  tread  of  the  implacable  foe.  Over  their  broken 
caskets  will  be  preached  many  a  patriotic  sermon,  and  at  the 
sight  of  this  new  evidence  of  the  wickedness  of  this  rebellion, 
many  a  new  resolve  will  be  made,  to  take  form  in  action  on 
future  battle-fields.  Thus  temporarily-successful  efforts  of 
rebel  hands  will  be  the  very  means  of  rendering  the  success 
ephemeral. 

For  some  unaccountable  reason,  the  successful  armies  of  the 
Potomac  and  Yirginia  remained  over  a  whole  month  of  fine 
weather  idle.  The  roads  were  splendid.  The  men  wrere 
anxious  to  end  the  work  they  had  to  do,  and  return  to  their 
friends  and  peaceful  avocations,  elated  with  success,  and 
anxious  to  reap  the  fruits  of  their  late  desperate  struggles,  by 
the  capture  of  the  enemy ;  daily  impatiently  inquiring  when 
the  order  to  move  would  come,  and  yet  it  was  delayed.  Sum 
mer  had  yielded  to  autumn,  and  soon  it  would  be  winter,  when 
of  necessity  the  campaign  must  be  ended.  Privates  saw  this. 
Non-commissioned,  commissioned  officers,  and  even  generals 
as  high  in  rank  as  commanders  of  divisions,  saw  it.  But 
somehow,  further  up  the  scale,  on  the  top  of  the  wheel,  or 


170  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

near  it,  there  was  a  cog  gone,  or  out  of  shape,  or  something ; 
so  the  army  did  not  move.  We  might  as  well  say  it.  "  The 
right  man  was  not  in  the  right  place,"  in  command  of  this 
impatient  army.  Too  much  West  Point  science  had  weak 
ened  his  strategy ;  or  the  film  of  future  expectancy  had 
obstructed  his  vision,  so  that  he  could  not  see  the  rich  harvest 
which  he  could  reap  by  one  day's  rapid  march,  and  half  a 
day's  active  fighting  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac.  The 
people  became  tired  of  the  delay.  The  newspaper  assurances 
that  General  McClellan  was  about  to  capture  the  whole  rebel 
army  became  stale,  so  that  the  ragged  news-boys  slyly  winked 
with  one  eye,  as  they  cried  it  out,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  It  may 
sell  the  papers,  but  will  sell  the  people,"  until  the  kind  and 
forgiving  spirit  of  President  Lincoln  could  bear  the  delay  no 
longer,  and  General  McClellan  was  ordered  forward. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

ON  THE  MARCH— JOHN  BROWN— JEFF.  DAVIS— RAINY  EXPERIENCES— RETURN  OP  CLOTH 
ING  LEFT  AT  ALEXANDRIA— CONFISCATION  IN  THE  ARMT— CAPTURE  OF  THE  BLUE 
RIDGE  PASSES— FIGHT  AT  ASHBY'S  GAP— GUARDING  REBEL  PROPERTY— FORAGING— 
HONEY— CHICKENS— MARCHING  ORDERS  . 

October  2±th. — The  Division  of  General  Doubleday,  was 
to-day  ordered  to  Bakersville,  a  little  village  about  six  miles 
further  up  the  Potomac.  The  men  had  been  in  camp  since 
the  eighteenth  of  September,  and  five  weeks  of  the  dull  rou 
tine  of  camp  life  usually  gives  relish  to  orders  to  march, 
though  it  were  to  march  into  battle. 

In  this  instance,  so  much  time  had  been  given  the  rebels  to 
escape,  after  the  demonstrations  of  our  strength,  that  the  idea 
of  an  immediate  fight  was  by  no  one  indulged.  It  was  to  be 
a  hunting  excursion,  the  most  forbidding  feature  of  which, 
was  the  probable  distance  to  be  traveled  before  the  game 
would  be  found.  Before  night  the  Brigade  had  reached  the 
camp  assigned  them,  and  our  pickets  guarded  the  Potomac  to 
keep  the  rebels  from  effecting  a  crossing,  which  they  would 
have  attempted  with  about  the  eagerness  that  an  intelligent 
child  thrusts  its  hands  into  a  fire  in  which  it  has  just  been 
severely  burned. 

Scarcely  had  the  men  encamped  for  the  night,  when  the 
rain  commenced  to  pour  down  in  torrents,  which  to  the  fact 
that  the  evenings  were  now  getting  cool,  added  the  further 


172  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

gloomy  prospect  of  muddy  roads  and  wet  camping-grounds. 
Ilain  in  camp  is  not  so  much  to  be  dreaded  ;  but  it  is  ever  an 
unwelcome  visitor  on  the  march,  and  especially  in  changing 
camps,  where  it  becomes  necessary  to  pitch  tents  upon  the 
ground  thoroughly  saturated  with  water. 

The  stay  at  this  point  was  to  be  brief.  Orders  were  given 
for  the  preparation  of  three  days'  cooked  rations,  which 
usually  means  a  march  ;  and  finally,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of 
October,  the  marching  order  came. 

The  day  was  exceedingly  stormy.  The  rain  poured  down 
in  torrents ;  the  roads  were  universally  muddy ;  the  wagons 
rolled  slowly  along,  nearly  to  the  hubs  in  the  mud  ;  the  men 
waded  through  it,  with  the  rain  dripping  from  their  knapsacks, 
and  their  shelter  tents  wrapped  about  them  thoroughly 
soaked ;  yet  never  was  army  happier.  One  might  well  sup 
pose  that  their  late  experiences  would  have  saddened  their 
hearts,  and  deprived  them  of  all  feelings  of  hilarity,  while  the 
gloominess  of  their  surroundings  was  enough  to  weigh  down 
their  spirits.  But,  somehow  in  the  army,  the  more  severe  the 
rain  and  the  deeper  the  mud,  the  more  jokes  and  stories.  To 
day,  as  they  marched  so  near  the  spot  where  John  Brown  became 
a  martyr  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  the  whole  army  struck  up  the 
song:— 

"  John  Brown's  body  lies  mouldering  in  the  grave, 
While  his  soul  goes  marching  on." 

What  a  desecration  of  the  day,  and  the  very  soil,  this  must 
have  seemed  to  any  "  F.  F.  Y.,"  who,  skulkingly,  listened  to 
the  song,  and  slyly  witnessed  the  marching  of  this  liberty- 
loving  army.  It  may  be  necessary  to  distribute  whisky  rations 
on  a  hard  march ;  but  to  keep  the  rain  out,  and  revive  the 
spirits,  experience  gives  the  preference  to  the  loyal  inspiration 
of  such  a  song.  While  there  is  no  depression  consequent  upon 
it,  it  lifts  the  soul  to  a  proper  appreciation  of  the  duty  to  be 


JOHN  BKOWN — JEFF.  DAVIS.  173 

performed,  and  nerves  the  soldier  in  his  crusade  for  the  right. 
John  Brown  was  misguided,  we  may  conclude,  judging  from 
a  certain  stand-point ;  but  it  is  a  great  pity  his  spirit  did  not 
enter  more  largely  into  the  men  high  in  command  of  our 
•armies  at  the  time  of  which  we  write.  The  hero  who,  with 
his  handful  of  men  and  one  cow,  could  frighten  the  State  of 
Virginia,  and,  in  fact,  the  wrhole  South,  would  not  have  sat 
quiet  five  long  weeks,  after  two  decisive  victories,  to  permit 
his  vanquished  foe  to  build  bridges  over  which  to  escape  in 
safety  to  his  home  !  Who  shall  say  that  the  spirit  of  John 
Brown  did  not  whisper  courage  and  manly  resolves  in  the  ears 
of  our  soldiery,  as  they  approached  the  place  which  his  daring 
deed  has  wrenched  from  oblivion  and  made  historic  ? 
"  We'll  liang  Jeff.  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree !" 

Shouted  the  "  boys  in  blue,"  as  they  plodded  along  through 
the  rain  and  the  mud,  and  the  two  quotations  were  very 
fittingly  sung  in  the  same  stanza.  The  spirit  that  made  Jeff. 
Davis  President,  hung  John  Brown.  The  spirit  that  applaud 
ed  the  freedom-loving  sacrifice  of  John  Brown,  would  very 
properly  return  the  hanging  compliment  to  Jeff.  Davis.  These 
spirits  of  liberty  and  slavery  are  antagonistic,  and  he  was  a 
wise  and  true  statesman  who  declared  that  they  can  never 
live  at  peace  in  this  Government.  The  one  has  gone  down 
very  shortly  after  it  vented  its  spite  upon  the  defenseless  head 
of  poor  John  Brown,  while  his  name  wrill  live  to  be  sung  in 
the  nursery,  and  the  camp  of  Freedom's  sons  forever.  We 
could  have  wished,  if  that  were  best — of  which  we  express  no 
opinion — that  John  Brown  might  not  have  been  so  rash  as  to 
throw  himself  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  nor  do  we  worship 
him  above  all  the  other  apostles  of  freedom ;  but,  as  a  repre 
sentative  of  freedom,  we  desire  to  see  his  disinterested  sacrifice 
on  the  altar  of  human  rights  accepted. 

The  night  of  the  twenty-seventh  of  October  was  passed  in 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

bivouac  at  the  western  entrance  to  Crarnpton's  Gap,  in  the 
South  Mountains.  The  hastily  prepared  cup  of  coffee  was 
swallowed,  and  soon  the  men,  wet  and  tired,  had  found  that 
sleep  which  they  so  much  needed. 

October  2Sth. — The  Division  reached  Berlin,  a  small  village- 
on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac,  which  had  been  chosen 
as  the  crossing-place  into  Virginia.  The  weather  had  now 
cleared  up,  and  everything  wore  a  more  pleasant  countenance  ; 
though  the  men  suffered  considerably  from  the  chilliness  of 
the  night  air. 

The  Regiment  at  four  P.  M.  encamped  about  a  mile  out  of 
the  village.  These  were,  indeed,  stirring  times.  The  whole 
army  was  concentrating  here,  preparatory  to  crossing.  The 
village  is  situated  on  the  railroad  and  canal,  and  was  made 
the  depot  of  supplies  for  the  whole  army  until  it  reached 
Warren  ton. 

Many  of  the  sick  and  wounded  left  by  the  Regiment  at 
Fredericksburg,  Gainesville,  Bull  Run  and  South  Mountain, 
had  rejoined  the  Regiment  during  the  halt,  after  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  and  were  illy  prepared  to  endure  the  severe  march 
which  had  already  been  made.  They  had  been  completely 
saturated,  and  had  marched  nearly  all  night.  The  wind  blew 
bitterly  cold,  and  when  they  finally  went  into  camp,  it  was 
only  to  pass  the  remainder  of  the  night  without  sleep,  huddled 
about  the  camp  fires  in  the  vain  attempt  to  get  warm  and  dry. 
An  instance  will  tend  to  illustrate  :— 

Captain  Swan,  of  Company  II,  had  recently  returned  to 
the  Regiment,  partially  recovered  from  a  severe  wound  in  the 
hip,  received  in  battle.  He,  however,  marched  with  his  Com 
pany  from  Bakersville.  When  the  Regiment  went  into  camp 
for  the  remainder  of  the  night,  the  Captain  sought  a  little 
sleep,  by  burrowing  under  a  hay-stack.  Thus  ensconced,  with 
his  rubber  blanket  wrapped  around  him,  he  fell  into  an  uneasy 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  MARCH.  175 

doze,  soon,  however,  waking  with  a  shivering  sensation 
throughout  his  entire  body,  especially  the  under  side.  On 
rising,  a  torrent  of  water  poured  out  of  his  blanket,  down . 
into  his  boots,  filling  them  to  overflowing  !  His  position  had 
been  such,  that  the  water  from  the  stack  dripped  down  upon 
and  into  the  folds  of  his  blanket,  which,  being  water-proof, 
refused  egress  to  the  sometimes  precious  fluid.  The  Captain 
estimated  that  he  thus  secured  to  himself  three  or  four  pails 
full  of  pure  water,  uncontaminated  by  contact  with  rebel 
soil !  Those  who  sleep  in  warm  beds,  in  clean,  dry  rooms,  can 
scarcely  be  made  to  appreciate  such  soldier  experiences. 

At  Berlin,  the  Regiment  remained  two  days.  Here  were 
received  the  knapsacks  that  had  been  left  on  the  march  from 
Fredericksburg  to  Culpepper.  It  was  a  sad  sight,  as  they 
were  brought  up  to  the  Regiment  for  distribution.  The 
names  of  the  owners  were  printed  upon  them.  Not  more 
than  half  of  those  owners  were  here  to  claim  them  !  As  the 
men  looked  them  over,  and  read  the  names,  a  feeling  of 
sadness  came  over  them  at  this  reminder  of  the  terrible  havoc 
which  the  last  five  months  had  wrought. 

a  That's  poor  Ed's  ;  he  wants  no  knapsack  now !" 

"  This  one  belonged  to  Charlie ;  he  was  killed  at  Gaines 
ville  !" 

"  Here  is  Johnny's ;  poor  fellow !  He  was  shot  through  the 
head  at  Bull  Run  !" 

"  This  is  Charley  Stamp's ;  lie  died  game  at  South  Moun 
tain  !" 

"  Here  is  Bill's ;  he  was  killed  at  Antietam  !" 

Such  were  the  expressions  of  the  men,  until  the  bronzed 
soldier  turned  away  with  a  heavy  heart  and  tearful  eye,  from 
those  evidences  of  the  awful  work  in  which  he  was  engaged. 
Many  garments  were  packed  and  sent  home,  as  sad  mementoes 
to  surviving  friends,  but  many  were  left,  never  to  be  seen  by 
the  friends  of  the  honored  dead  again. 


176  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

Bnt  camp  life  is  not  all  gloom.  Sad  remembrances  will 
present  themselves  in  a  variety  of  forms ;  but  they  are  so 
quickly  succeeded  by  a  counterpart,  that,  on  the  whole,  camp 
life  averages,  in  point  of  exciting  sport,  with  most  of  the  avo 
cations  of  life. 

There  is  always  a  set  of  men  present  in  camp  who  make 
a  living  by  selling  articles  to  the  soldiers  at  exorbitant  prices. 
At  Hiker's  Island  we  saw  them  sell  a  pistol  to  a  boy  for  four 
teen  dollars,  worth  about  five.  At  Camp  Brightwood  they 
sold  "  Cal."  Totrnan  a  bottle  of  "villainous  compound,"  called 
whiskey,  for  a  dollar,  worth,  perhaps  twenty-five  cents.  In 
the  case  now  in  hand,  the  man  offered  boots  for  sale  at  exorbi 
tant  prices.  The  boys  had  an  equitable  interpretation  of  the 
confiscation  act,  whether  it  was  legal  or  not,  and  as  this  fellow 
mentioned  his  prices,  they  concluded  it  a  proper  case  wherein 
to  enforce  confiscation.  Some  one  cried  out,  "  Rim !  rim ! 

rim !"     This  was   caught  up   by   others,  until  the  cry  went 
through  the  camp. 

Now,  "  Rim,"  in  camp,  means,  "  Seize  and  confiscate." 
"  We  rimmed  that  chap  beautifully."  "  Didn't  we  rim  that 
Johnny  garden,  though  !"  "  Hurra,  boys,  here's  a  fellow  with 
whisky ;  let's  rim  him."  These  were  the  camp  phrases  ap 
plied  to  confiscation. 

"  In  the  case  at  bar,"  as  the  lawyers  say,  the  wagon-load  of 
boots  was  soon  "  rimmed,"  and  the  property  that  was  to  extort 
enormous  sums  from  the  men  proved  an  unprofitable  invest 
ment.  Report  was  made  at  headquarters,  where  these  army 
leeches  were  as  thoroughly  detested  as  in  the  ranks.  It  was 
necessary,  however,  to  investigate  the  matter.  The  Major,  a 
Captain  and  a  Lieutenant  were  appointed  a  commission  to 
examine  the  tents  and  bring  to  trial  any  man  found  with  the 
confiscated  property.  Notice  was  given  in  clue  form  to  the 
orderlies,  who  in  turn  promulgated  the  order  to  the  men  to  be 


LEAVING  MARYLAND.  177 

ready  for  the  inspection  of  their  tents.  Of  course  the  men 
were  soon  ready,  and  no  boots  were  found,  though  every  tent 
was  looked  into.  A  few  days  after,  the  men  looked  much 
better  in  the  new  boots  they  had  just  "  purchased." 

October  28£A. — Everything  being  in  readiness,  the  troops 
commenced  moving  over  the  pontoon  bridges  into  Virginia. 
It  was  with  some  regret  that  the  army  left  the  loyal,  or  at 
least  semi-loyal,  atmosphere  of  Maryland,  for  bitter-secession 
Virginia.  This  State  has  been  called  the  "  Mother  of  Presi 
dents  ;"  but  the  Seventy-sixth  had  found  her  the  breeder  of 
vile  reptiles  instead,  which  hissed  and  thrust  their  poisonous 
fangs  into  the  national  existence,  until  the  men  began  to  con 
clude  that  the  fact  that  her  sons  had  become  Presidents  was 
attributable  more  directly  to  their  cunning  intrigue  in  securing 
place,  than  any  royal  blood  that  run  in  the  veins  of  the  now 
disloyal  mother.  It  was  not,  therefore,  without  regrets  that 
the  men  again  set  foot  upon  her  "  sacred  soil."  But  soldiers 
have  no  discretion,  and  on  they  went,  until  they  had  marched 
ten  miles  into  the  State.  Here  the  Regiment  remained  two 
days. 

On  the  first  day  of  November,  the  Brigade  was  sent  about 
fifteen  miles  to  Snicker's  Gap,  to  prevent  an  attack  from  the 
enemy  in  that  direction.  It  was  only  accompanied  by  a  cav 
alry  force  under  General  Pleasanton,  and  remained  three  days 
from  six  to  ten  miles  in  advance  of  the  main  army.  The 
enemy  was  at  that  time  on  the  west  side  of  the  Blue  Kidge,  in 
the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah. 

The  Brigade  to  which  the  Seventy-sixth  was  attached,  was, 
at  this  time,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hofmann,  of 
the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  a  most  gallant  officer. 
During  the  three  days  that  it  was  supporting  General  Pleas 
anton,  it  was  continually  more  or  less  under  fire.  The  cavalry 
would  go  out  and  stir  up  the  rebels,  as  the  dog  starts  up  the 

M 


178  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

game,  then,  retreating  to  its  supports,  the  infantry  would  pour 
in  sucli  deadly  volleys  that  the  rebels  would  in  turn  retreat. 

These  gaps  in  the  mountains  were  important  points,  and  no 
good  general  could  be  induced  to  march  past  them  without 
so  securing  them  that  the  rebels  could  not  come  through  and 
cut  off  his  supplies.  It  was  for  this  purpose  that  General 
Pleasanton  and  Hofmann's  Brigade  were  sent  out.  Each  of 
these  gaps  was  guarded  by  rebel  skirmishers,  with  strong  re 
serves,  and  each  was  in  turn  taken  and  held  by  General 
Pleasanton. 

At  Ashby's  Gap,  our  Brigade  did  the  work  nobly.  De 
ployed  as  skirmishers,  they  advanced  slowly  up  the  well 
wooded  sides  of  the  narrow  opening,  drove  in  the  enemy's 
pickets,  rallied  on  our  own  reserves,  and  advanced  in  line  of 
battle,  had  a  sharp  fight  with  the  rebel  reserves,  and  finally 
drove  them  altogether  out  of  this  important  passage. 

Here,  as  everywhere  else  during  the  war,  the  negroes  ren 
dered  signal  service  by  acting  as  guides. 

While  at  Ashby's  Gap,  an  incident  occurred,  which  illus 
trates  the  estimation  in  which  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment 
was  held  by  the  Brigade  Commander. 

Colonel  Hofmann  had  advanced  with  the  Fifty-sixth  Penn 
sylvania,  and  Ninety-fifth  New  York  to  take  a  battery,  leaving 
the  Seventy-sixth  as  a  reserve.  He  failed  in  the  attempt,  and 
openly  declared  that  if  he  had  taken  the  Seventy-sixth,  in  the 
place  of  either  of  the  others,  he  could  have  taken  the  battery. 

The  enemy  were  finally  driven  through  Ashby's  Gap,  and 
thus  ended  the  running  fire  which  had  been  kept  up  for  three 
days,  and  extended  over  from  twelve  to  fifteen  miles. 

November  3d. — The  cavalry  and  Brigade  of  infantry,  hav 
ing  accomplished  the  object  in  view  in  their  detail,  joined  the 
Division  near  Union.  The  Seventy-sixth  was  here  detailed  to 
guard  the  rebel  property,  which  they  did  to  the  entire  satis- 


GUARDING  REBEL  PROPERTY.  170 

faction  of  their  loyal  selves,  whether  they  satisfied  the  disloyal 
owners  or  not. 

A  region  visited  by  an  army,  is  generally  left  in  some  such 
a  plight  as  Egypt  after  the  locusts  had  swarmed  over  it.  The 
neighborhood  of  Union  had  felt  very  little  of  the  devastating 
influences  of  war.  Nestled  at  the  foot  of  the  eastern  slope  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  in  the  rich  and  beautiful  valley  between  that 
range  and  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  at  some  distance  from  any 
public  thoroughfare,  it  had  thus  far  escaped  the  bitter  experi 
ences  of  other  portions  of  the  "  Mother  of  Presidents."  It 
was,  therefore,  literally  "  overflowing  with  milk  and  honey." 
But,  with  all  its  blessings,  the  inhabitants  had  forgotten  their 
allegiance  to  the  Government  that  had  protected  them,  and, 
except  as  policy  dictated,  made  no  secret  of  their  sympathy 
for  the  rebel  cause.  The  privates  in  the  army  understood 
that  such  men  were  entitled  to  no  particular  protection  from 
the  Union  forces ;  indeed,  they  very  properly  supposed  that 
the  fat  poultry,  and  pigs,  and  mutton,  which  abounded  there 
would  quite  as  properly  feed  the  Union  soldiery,  as  its  secesh 
owners,  while  the  honey  in  the  neighborhood  would  add  a 
relish  to  hard  tack  not  to  be  ignored. 

It  was  difficult  for  Union  soldiers  to  stand  guard  over  rebel 
property,  while  its  gouty  owner  sat  on  his  porch  talking  dis 
loyalty,  and  his  daughters  turned  up  their  aristocratic  noses 
and  flirted  contemptuously  by,  as  though  their  protectors  were 
beneath  their  notice.  But  poultry  and  honey  furnish  an  ex 
cellent  panacea  for  all  such  insults  and  wounded  feelings,  and 
the  men  of  the  Seventy-sixth  applied  the  remedy  skilfully 
and  in  allopathic  doses. 

One  old  secessionist  had  himself  stood  guard  over  his  swarms 
of  bees  during  the  day,  not  quite  liking  the  protection  which 
his  conscience  told  him  the  Union  army  should  give  them. 
They  stood  upon  a  rack  in  his  yard,  and  had  attracted  the  at- 


180  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

tention  of  our  men.  About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
fearing  the  old  man  might  have  fallen  asleep,  and  his  bees  not 
properly  guarded,  Lieutenant  Myers,  with  a  proper  guard, 
visited  the  premises.  The  rack  had  disappeared,  and  with  it 
the  hives  of  bees.  Fearing  that  their  services  might  have 
been  tendered  too  late,  they  visited  the  wood-house  in  search 
of  the  lost  property ;  but  after  stumbling  over  divers  boxes, 
casks,  and  piles  of  wood,  their  convictions  were  strengthened 
that  the  honey  had  escaped  their  guardian  care.  At  last,  as 
they  were  about  leaving  the  premises,  they  cast  a  lingering 
look  behind,  when  they  discovered  the  bee  rack  against  the 
window  of  the  bedroom  where  its  owner  slept,  and  on  the 
rack  was  one  solitary  hive.  The  window  was  open,  and  the 
hive  was  convenient ;  but  so  was  the  old  gentleman.  Honey 
is  sweet,  and  so  was  the  sleep  which  the  old  man  was  enjoy 
ing,  so  they  took  the  one  and  left  the  other  to  its  owner. 
This  hive  of  honey,  after  the  bees  were  smoked  out,  sweetened 
many  a  ration  for  the  Regiment,  while  the  description  of  its 
capture  deprived  it  of  none  of  its  sweetness. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  the  same  night,  certain  poultry  yards 
had  been  guarded  in  much  the  same  manner. 

"  Mister,"  said  Frank  F.  Pratt,  of  Company  A,  accompa 
nied  by  a  squad,  "  have  you  any  chickens  ?" 

"  I  have  a  few,"  replied  the  secessionist,  "  and  will  sell  them 
to  you." 

«  Where  are  they  ?" 

u  Out  in  those  trees,"  said  "secesh."  "  There,  you  climb  up 
and  get  what  you  want,  and  then  you  can  go  up  and  do  the 
same,"  pointing  first  to  one  and  then  to  another  of  the  boys. 

This  was  too  slow  a  process ;  so  the  boys  all  climbed  up 
together,  each  taking  a  separate  tree.  No  sooner  had  they 
seized  those  nearest  them,  than  the  others  flew  away. 


FORAGING.  181 

"  Hallo,  there !  here  go  the  chickens,"  shouted  "  secesh," 
as  he  rushed  off  in  pursuit  of  the  wanderers. 

The  men  descended,  but  the  proprietor  was  gone,  and  time 
was  precious.  They  could  not  wait  to  pay. 

The  boys  always  justified  themselves  with  the  proposition 
that  if  a  man  leaves  his  ninety  and  nine  chickens  in  the  tree, 
to  seek  the  one  that  flies  away,  he  has  no  right  to  complain  at 
the  absence  of  the  ninety-nine  thus  abandoned,  when  lie  shall 
again  return. 

Similar  experiences  were  not  wanting  with  reference  to  all 
the  delicacies,  as  well  as  substantiate,  necessary  to  make  camp 
life  pleasant. 

The  men  were  congratulating  themselves  upon  a  little  quiet 
camp  life  in  this  region  of  plenty,  when,  after  a  stay  of  twen 
ty-four  hours,  the  order  came  to  march ! 

The  honey  was  stored  in  all  descriptions  of  receptacles — 
oyster  and  milk  cans,  sardine-boxes,  and  whatever  was  at  hand 
that  was  honey-proof,  while  the  supply  of  chickens  packed  in 
haversacks  and  knapsacks  precluded  the  necessity  for  the  usual 
order  to  distribute  three  days'  rations.  Could  a  vote  have 
been  taken  in  the  army  at  this  time,  there  would  have  been 
very  few  dissenting  voices  to  General  Pope's  order  to  forage 
and  subsist  on  the  enemy. 

So  bitterly  opposed  to  the  Union  army  and  cause  were  the 
people  of  this  region,  that  one  gouty  old  land  owner,  seeing 
the  boys  drinking  and  filling  their  canteens  at  his  well,  rushed 
out  and  took  the  handle  from  the  pump,  and  carried  it  into 
the  house,  and  then,  with  the  effrontery  peculiar  to  Virginians, 
went  to  headquarters  and  asked  for,  and  actually  obtained,  a 
guard  to  protect  his  private  property ! 

Another  incident  is  related  to  us  by  a  friend,  where  a  sol 
dier,  at  a  later  period  of  the  war,  entered  a  house  and  asked 


182  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGBIENT  N.  Y.  V. 

for  milk,  offering  to  pay  for  the  same.  The  "  daughter  of 
Virginia "  refused  him,  on  the  ground  that  she  had  none. 
This  he  did  not  believe,  and  it  was  not  until  he  had  threat 
ened  to  demolish  her  piano  with  the  butt  of  his  musket,  that 
she  produced  milk  in  plenty  from  under  her  bed.  Most  people 
will  agree  with  us  in  saying  that  he  was  a  generous  soldier  who 
insisted  upon  paying  for  the  milk  he  thus  obtained. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

MARCH  TO  WARRENTON— "  WHAT  GUNS  Do  You  CARRY  ?"— SNOW  STORM— GENERAL 
MCCLELLAN  LEAVES  THE  ARMY— COLONEL  WAINWRIGHT  RETURNS  TO  THE  EEGIMENT 
— WARKENTON  TO  FALMOUTH— CONTINUALLY  CHANGING— ARRIVE  AT  FREDERICKSBURG 
— ANOTHER  BATTLE  IMMINENT. 

ON  the  morning  of  November  third,  the  Regiment  took  up 
its  line  of  march,  and  continued  on  until  nine  o'clock  P.  M., 
when  it  arrived  at  a  little  village  called  Upperville,  where  a 
rest  of  a  three  days  was  given.  The  weather  had  now  become 
cold,  and  the  men  suffered  severely. 

Nothing  noteworthy  occurred,  except  hard  marching,  until 
the  Regiment  reached  Warrenton,  on  the  sixth  of  November. 
The  last  day  before  reaching  that  place,  the  men  marched 
eighteen  miles,  and  were  extremely  pleased  to  receive  the 
orders  to  halt  and  go  into  camp.  Though  weary  with  march 
ing,  the  Regiment  entered  Warrenton  with  much  lighter 
hearts  than  when  two  months  and  a  half  before,  they  retreated 
through  its  streets.  The  rebels  had  very  lately  been  here,  and 
about  four  hundred  of  its  wounded  were  still  in  its  hospital. 

"While  at  a  halt  in  the  streets  of  Warrenton,  the  Seventy- 
sixth  chanced  to  be  directly  in  front  of  a  building  occupied  as 
a  rebel  hospital.  The  windows  were  filled  with  rebels,  anx 
ious  to  get  a  view  of  our  troops. 

"What  regiment  is  that?"  shouted  a  "Johnny,"  from  a 
window. 


184:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

"  Seventy-sixth  New  York,"  was  the  proud  reply. 

"  Is  that  so  ?  Then  you  are  the  cusses  that  gave  it  to  us  so 
at  Gainesville.  Say,  boys,  what  kind  of  guns  be  them  you 
carry  ?" 

"  Come  down  and  look  at  them,  if  you  would  like  to  know." 

"  Wall,  I'd  like  to  know,  for  I  reckon  they  are  different 
from  any  other,  for  they  send  a  bullet  through  seven  men  at 
once  if  they  stand  in  a  row." 

A  pause,  and  then  another  voice  shouts  from  a  different 
window : — 

"Say,  you  fellers,  which  of  you  sp'ilt  the  leg  of  General 
Ewell,  hey?" 

But  no  one  in  the  Seventy-sixth  could  answer.  It  might 
have  been  any  one  in  the  Regiment,  for  that  volley  leaped  from 
every  gun,  as  if  from  one,  and  General  Ewell  will  never  know 
the  man,  though  he  must  distinctly  recollect  the  Regiment 
which,  at  Gainesville,  deprived  him  of  a  leg. 

Passing  on,  the  Regiment  went  into  camp  about  two  miles 
from  town,  where  it  remained  four  days.  While  here  the 
Regiment  encountered  the  first  fall  of  snow.  It  was  not  one 
of  your  half  rain,  half  snow  storms,  such  as  had  been  wit 
nessed  the  winter  before  in  Washington;  but  a  regular 
Northern  snow  storm,  wherein  the  snow  fell  a  foot  deep. 

Colonel  Wainwright  here  resumed  command  of  the  Regi 
ment,  having  partially  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  wound 
received  at  South  Mountain. 

At  Warren  ton,  General  McOlellan  was  relieved  of  his  com 
mand  of  the  army.  The  parting  scene  was  truly  affecting. 
General  McClellan  was  a  kind-hearted  man,  and  as  such, 
endeared  himself  to  the  men ;  and  now,  as  he  rode  along 
the  lines,  the  demonstrations  of  the  men  must  have  in  some 
measure,  quieted  his  sensitive  mind,  naturally  annoyed  at 
being  dismissed  at  such  a  time  as  this.  He  who  has  the  hard- 


GENERAL  MCCLELLAN  BELIEVED.  185 

ihood  to  declare  that  General  McClellan  had  no  good  traits  of 
character,  even  for  a  general,  does  himself  injustice.  ISTo  gen 
eral  ever  exhibited  a  better  faculty  for  winning  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  men ;  none  ever  took  better  care  of  his 
troops ;  few  excelled  him  in  organizing  an  army ;  but  still, 
the  fact  was  patent  that  he  was  an  unsuccessful  general  on  the 
march  and  in  the  field.  Those  unacquainted  with  military 
science,  may  not  be  able  to  point  out  accurately  the  defects  in 
his  military  character ;  but  there  certainly  was  wanting  the 
necessary  element,  success.  A  general  may  be  an  excellent 
draughtsman,  and  make  splendid  maps  of  intended  operations ; 
he  may  be  skilled  in  engineering,  and  detect  in  a  moment  the 
salient  points  in  a  given  fortification;  he  may  understand  per 
fectly  the  science  of  approaches  by  parallels ;  but  if  he  fails 
when  he  takes  the  field ;  if  he  tires  the  people  by  his  dilatory 
marches,  and  fails  to  reap  the  results  of  repeated  victories,  the 
people  will  consider  him,  and  history  will  write  him,  a  failure ! 
With  all  his  good  qualities,  the  halting  at  Yorktown  ;  the  fail 
ure  at  Kichmond ;  the  failure  to  give  support  to  Pope,  and  the 
neglect  to  gather  the  fruits  which  the  heroism  of  our  gallant 
soldiery  placed  in  his  power  at  South  Mountain  and  Antietam, 
must  ever  arise  to  accuse  General  McClellan. 

November  llth. — The  Eegiment  to-day  inarched  about 
seven  miles  to  Fayetteville.  This  place  consisted  of  one  log 
barn,  tottering  into  dilapidation,  one  small  frame  house,  two  or 
three  small  whitewashed  negro  quarters,  and  four  or  five 
aged  apple  trees !  One  of  the  most  striking  contrasts  be 
tween  the  vigorous  North  and  sleepy  South  is  found  in  the 
villages  of  the  two  sections.  At  the  North,  wherever  a  little 
village  springs  up,  there  is  life  and  activity,  and  evidences  of 
industry  and  thrift ;  at  the  South,  the  villages  on  the  map 
may  be  as  numerous,  with  more  celebrated  names ;  but  when 
visited,  they  are  found  to  be  thriftless  and,  like  the  western 


186  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

cities  during  the  rush  of  speculators,  existing  chiefly  on  paper. 
The  same  remark  applies  to  the  Southern  cities.  "What  at 
the  North  would  be  considered  a  fair  specimen  of  a  broken- 
down  manufacturing  town,  where  some  visionary  speculator 
had  spent  a  fortune  in  building  up  a  town,  and  then  become 
a  bankrupt,  while  his  town  resolved  itself  back  to  a  wilder 
ness,  the  Southrons  dub  "  city,"  mistaking  the  results  of  want 
of  energy,  for  evidences  of  antiquated  aristocracy.  Slavery' 
dragged  the  South  down — freedom  built  up  the  North. 
Slavery  is  dead,  and  freedom  reigns  universal,  and  the  South 
will  yet  thank  the  "  Yankee  horde  "  who  overran  their  terri 
tory,  achieving  for  the  South  an  inestimable  victory  over  their 
superstitions — a  victory  which  the  direful  institution  of  human 
slavery  prevented  them  from  achieving  for  themselves. 

Four  days  of  halting  at  Fayetteville,  and  away  went  the 
troops  for  Falmouth.  The  enemy  was  at  this  time  marching 
down  from  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge  to  a  position  south  of  the 
Rappahannock. 

Two  days  of  hard  marching  through  the  rain  and  mud,  a 
bivouac  in  a  swamp  for  two  days,  until  the  water  actually 
drove  the  troops  away,  and  then  another  day's  march  brought 
the  Regiment  to  "Brooks's  Station,"  on  the  railroad  from 
Aquia  Creek  to  Fredericksburg.  This  is  the  same  point  at 
which,  just  six  months  before,  the  Seventy-sixth  bivouacked 
for  the  night  after  its  first  day's  march  in  Yirginia. 

It  was  now  exceedingly  cold,  and  during  the  few  days  the 
Regiment  remained  at  Brooks's  Station  the  men  were  busy  in 
the  endeavor  to  make  themselves  comfortable.  This  was 
scarcely  accomplished,  when  the  Seventy-sixth  was  ordered  to 
Aquia  Creek,  011  guard.  Here  the  effort  to  be  comfortable 
wak  repeated ;  but  just  as  the  men  began  to  feel  at  home,  the 
order  to  march  was  again  given,  and  away  they  went  to  Fred 
ericksburg. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

CROSSING  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK— BATTLE  or  FREDERICKSBURG— HEROIC  CHARGE  OF 
DOUBLEDAY'S  DIVISION— LIEUTENANT  CR  AND  ALL  KILLED— THE  REBELS  DRIVEN  FROM 
A  STRONO  POSITION— SEVENTY-SIXTH  GUARDS  THE  BATTERY— NIGHT  FIGHT— INCI 
DENTS  AND  INSTANCES  OF  BRAVERY— SKILFUL  RETREAT  OF  GEKERAL  BURNSIDE— 
TOM  SEES  "Ds  OLE  HOUSE  AGIN  "—GETTING  INTO  CAMP— WINTER  QUARTERS— GEN 
ERAL  DOUBLEDAY  TRANSFERRED  TO  ANOTHER  COMMAND— HlS  FAREWELL  ADDRESS— 

CORDUROYING. 

December  l~Ltk. — All  was  bustle  and  excitement.  The  pon 
toons,  which  should  have  been  here  long  ago,  had  at  length 
arrived,  and  were  moving  toward  the  river.  The  movements 
all  indicated  that  the  foes  who  had  so  often  met,  with  changing 
success,  for  the  past  six  months,  were  very  soon  to  renew  their 
acquaintance. 

December  12£A. — This  afternoon  the  Seventy-sixth  crossed 
•the  Rappahannock  with  the  Brigade,  at  the  lower  pontoon 
bridge,  which  it  was  detailed  to  guard.  The  whole  army  was 
at  this  time  under  command  of  General  Burnside.  The  First 
Corps,  to  which  the  Seventy-sixth  was  attached,  was  under 
General  Reynolds,  afterward  killed  at  Gettysburg.  The  Sixth 
Corps  was  under  command  of  General  Smith,  and,  with  the 
First  Corps,  constituted  the  left  Grand  Division,  under  Gene 
ral  Franklin.  The  place  selected  for  its  crossing  was  about 
three  miles  below  the  city,  where,  after  ascending  a  steep  bank 
by  the  river,  the  surface  spread  out  into  a  broad  plain  toward 
the  rebel  heights. 


188  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Early  on  tlie  morning  of  the  eleventh,  the  pontoons  were 
brought  down  to  the  river's  brink  and  laid,  one  bridge  by  the 
Fifteenth  New  York  Engineers,  and  the  other  by  the  United 
States  Engineers,  while  the  cannon  stood,  heavily  shotted, 
upon  commanding  eminences,  threatening  destruction  to  the 
enemy  in  case  he  attempted  to  interfere  with  the  workmen. 

No  duty  requires  more  real  courage  than  the  laying  of 
bridges,  in  the  face  of  the  foe.  The  excitements  of  the  field 
prepare  the  soldier  for  the  severest  charge  ;  but  the  engineers, 
without  the  stimulus  of  excitement,  must  march  down  to  the 
stream,  though  the  rebel  pickets  and  sharpshooters  threaten  on 
the  other  shore.  The  bridges  were,  however,  laid,  and  to-day 
crossed  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 

Our  forces  have  been  shelling  the  city  of  Fredericksburg, 
but  as  yet  have  elicited  no  reply.  The  signs  are  ominous  for 
to-morrow ! 

The  Seventy-sixth  was  ordered  to  guard  the  bridge  to  pre 
vent  any  retreat  of  stragglers  or  others,  even  -at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  as  the  General  said,  because  this  Regiment  could 
be  depended  upon  in  any  emergency. 

After  the  experience  of  the  past  few  months,  the  glory  of 
being  shot  at  was  not  very  highly  prized.  The  men  rather 
considered  it  good  fortune  when  obedience  to  orders  required 
their  presence  at  a  point  not  particularly  exposed;  and  though 
in  all  the  record  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  no  instance  can  be  found 
where,  as  a  regiment,  it  sought  to  avoid  the  performance  of 
its  whole  duty,  yet  the  truth  impels  us  to  do  justice  to  that 
common  instinct  which  there,  as  elsewhere,  preferred  safety 
to  danger. 

Early  in  the  morning,  December  thirteenth,  firing  com 
menced  all  along  the  lines,  and  it  soon  became  apparent  that 
a  severe  engagement  was  about  to  take  place.  The  Seventy- 
sixth  was  congratulating  itself  upon  its  good  fortune  in 


DEATH  OP  LIEUTENANT  CEANDALL.  189 

escaping  a  participation  in  the  dangers  of  the  fight,  when, 
about  nine  o'clock,  orders  were  received  to  join  the  Division 
moving  to  the  front. 

The  fighting  in  this  battle  was  mostly  done  with  artillery, 
yet  in  very  few  engagements  have  the  casualties  been  greater 
than  in  this.  The  ground  was  particularly  favorable  to  the 
rebels,  and  correspondingly  unfavorable  to  us.  The  Union 
army  was  obliged  to  march  over  a  broad  plain,  without  the 
least  protection,  while  the  rebels  occupied  a  commanding  em 
inence,  from  which  they  could  pour  their  destructive  fire  over 
the  whole  plain  below. 

Doubleday's  Division  formed  the  extreme  left  of  the  whole 
army,  and  our  Brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Cutler,  formed 
the  right  of  the  Division. 

The  battle  raged  from  about  nine  A.  M.,  until  eight  P.  M., 
without  cessation ,• — our  men  exposed  to  a  most  destructive  fire 
for  eleven  hours,  without  the  power  to  inflict  any  adequate 
chastisement  upon  the  enemy.  The  rebels  were  posted  upon 
a  range  of  hills  forming  nearly  a  semi-circle,  and  in  the  deadly 
focus  was  the  Division  of  General  Doubleday.  The  shot  and 
shell  came  from  the  front  and  each  flank,  and  some,  at  times, 
from  near  the  rear,  so  favorable  was  the  ground  to  the  rebels. 

Shortly  after  marching  into  line,  the  enemy  were  discovered 
on  the  left  of  the  Division,  in  a  ravine  that  ran  down  to  the 
river,  which,  being  skirted  by  dense  wood,  was  peculiarly  well- 
protected.  Doubleday's  Division  was  ordered  to  drive  them 
from  this  strongly-intrenched  position.  As  the  Division  faced 
to  the  left,  it  was  subjected  to  a  galling  flank  fire  from  the 
rebel  batteries  on  the  hill. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Lieutenant  Crandall,  of  Company 
B,  was  killed  by  wrhat,  in  military  language,  is  called  a 
ricochet  shot.  The  ground  was  frozen,  and  the  enemy  fired 
at  such  an  angle  that  the  balls  came  bounding  along  over  the 
plain,  one  of  which  struck  Lieutenant  Crandall. 


190  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Previous  to  crossing  the  river/an  order  had  been  received 
to  detail  one  officer  from  the  Seventy-sixth,  to  remain  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  and  care  for  the  wounded  at  the  hos 
pital.  Lieutenant  Crandall  was  detailed  for  this  duty.  On 
hearing  of  the  order,  and  that  his  Company  was  going  forward, 
he  went  to  Colonel  Wainwright,  and  requested,  if  his  men 
were  to  go  into  battle,  that  he  might  accompany  them.  His 
gallant  conduct  at  South  Mountain,  where  he  was  wounded, 
did  not  make  this  request  necessary  to  establish  his  character 
as  a  soldier.  Every  one  in  the  Regiment  knew  him  as  one  of 
the  truest  men  that  ever  drew  a  sword  in  defense  of  the  right. 
Quiet,  gentlemanly,  educated,  conscientious,  he  possessed  just 
those  qualities  which  could  not  fail  to  endear  him  to  every  one 
with  whom  he  became  acquainted.  lie  had  left  a  lucrative 
business,  a  beautiful  young  wrife  to  whom  he  was  just  married, 
and  all  that  made  life  desirable,  to  march  at  the  call  of  his 
country  to  her  defense.  "When  he  made  his  request,  the 
Colonel  at  first  hesitated,  but  observing  the  Lieutenant's  anx 
iety,  he  finally  yielded,  and  substituted  another  to  remain. 
With  those  frowning  cannon  in  front,  it  \vas  not  difficult  to 
find  one  who  would  consent  to  act  as  a  substitute.  The  line 
of  battle  had  just  been  formed,  when  the  bounding  ball  struck 
the  brave  Lieutenant,  carrying  away  a  large  portion  of  his 
head.  He  was  carried  to  the  rear  by  Corporal  C.  Y.  Fuller, 
who  stood  near  him  at  the  time,  and  there,  on  the  southern 
bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  beneath  a  wide-spreading  oak, 
rests  the  broken  vase  that  contained  one  of  America's  truest 
and  best.  A  species  of  courage  is  sometimes  found  in  bad 
men  ;  but  here  was  an  instance  of  that  genuine  moral  courage 
that  dared  anything  and  everything,  because  by  so  doing  lie 
was  aiding  the  right.  To  Lieutenant  Crandall,  conscience  and 
courage  were  synonymous.  Peace  to  the  memory  of  Chauncey 
D.  Crandall. 


GALLANT  CHAKGE.  191 

It  was  a  brilliant  charge  made  by  General  Doubleday's 
Division,  at  the  opening  of  which  Lieutenant  Crandall  was 
killed.  Over  that  broad  plain,  with  a  severe]fire  of  shot  and 
shell  in  front,  and  from  the  batteries  on  the  right,  which,  dis 
covering  the  movement,  attempted  by  sharp  flank  firing  to 
prevent  it,  up  the  ascent  to  the  thicket,  from  which  poured 
the  deadly  fire,  rushed  this  tried  Division.  It  was  a  severe 
test  of  the  soldier ;  but  they  were  soon  amply  rewarded  by 
seeing  the  enemy  retreat  in  haste,  leaving  General  Doubleday 
in  possession  of  this  portion  of  the  field. 

Night  at  last  cast  her  mantle  over  the  scenes  of  that  san 
guinary  field,  and  the  men  needed,  as  they  anticipated,  rest. 
But  army  anticipations  are  very  unreal.  Just  as  darkness 
came  on,  two  regiments  that  had  been  sent  to  support  an  im 
portant  battery,  returned  with  a  request  that  General  Doub 
leday  send  two  regiments  which  could  be  relied  upon  in  any 
emergency,  as  it  was  expected  the  enemy  would  attack  and 
attempt  to  capture  the  battery  during  the  night.  The  Gene 
ral  honored  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  and  Second 
Wisconsin  with  the  order  to  support  that  battery.  To  fight 
all  day  in  such  a  position,  has  no  particular  relish  in  it.  After 
eleven  hours  hard  fighting,  to  stand  guard  all  night,  does  not 
heighten  the  relish. 

Scarcely  had  these  regiments  stumbled  through  the  darkness 
to  their  position  as  supports,  when  the  heavens  were  lighted 
up,  and  the  grape,  canister  and  solid  shot  fell  like  hail  about 
them.  The  enemy  had  several  small  pieces,  which  they  would 
load,  run  up  near  our  lines  in  the  darkness,  discharge  the  vol 
ley,  then  retreat  hastily  to  repeat  the  movement.  This  was 
kept  up  for  about  half  an  hour,  our  men  only  protecting 
themselves  by  falling  flat  upon  the  ground,  and  even  then 
quite  a  number  were  wounded.  The  importance  of  the  po 
sition  having  attracted  the  attention  of  General  Reynolds,  he 


192          THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

sent  several  Eegiments  to  the  support  of  the  battery,  and  the 
Seventy-sixth  was  withdrawn. 

During  the  firing,  Captain  Swan,  of  Company  II,  was 
nearly  blinded  by  the  dirt  thrown  by  a  charge  of  canister 
falling  within  a  few  feet  of  him.  Though  he  could  see  noth 
ing,  he  managed  to  crawl  over  a  ditch  and  fence,  when,  getting 
the  dirt  out  of  his  eyes  somewhat,  he  succeeded  in  overtaking 
his  company,  and  was  led  from  the  field. 

Sergeant-Major  (afterwards  Adjutant)  Hubert  Carpenter 
was  here  wounded  by  a  canister  shot  in  the  forehead,  and  was 
sent  to  the  hospital  over  the  river.  In  the  morning  he 
returned  to  the  Regiment,  his  head  badly  swollen,  and  asked 
the  privilege  of  taking  his  position  in  the  line ;  but  Colonel 
Wainwright  felt  constrained,  in  view  of  the  wound  of  the 
young  hero,  to  order  him  back  to  the  hospital.  It  is  not  sur 
prising  that  such  bravery  should  promote  the  private  to  one 
of  the  most  important  positions  in  the  Regiment. 

During  this  engagement,  Henry  McFall,  of  Company  F, 
fell  mortally  wounded  in  the  thigh,  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell. 
Colonel  "Wainwright  says  of  him : — "  He  was  attended  to  very 
bravely,  under  fire,  by  a  little  Assistant-Surgeon  of  the  Nine 
ty-fifth  New  York.  Probably  he  sank  under  the  shock,  for 
he  died  very  shortly.  On  leaving,  the  brave  fellow  called  out 
cheerfully,  '  Good-bye,  Colonel,'  evidently,  as  I  thought,  with 
the  intention  of  keeping  up  the  spirits  of  his  comrades.  I 
have  always  admired  him,  and  should  like  to  know  how  his 
family  are  doing." 

The  Seventy-sixth  went  into  this  battle  with  one  hundred 
and  twelve  privates,  and  of  this  handful  eleven  were  killed 
and  wounded. 

It  was  expected  the  next  day  would  witness  a  renewal  of 
this  awful  carnage ;  but  it  passed  quietly,  with  the  exception 
of  an  occasional  salute  from  a  solitary  Whitworth  gun.  The 


RETEEAT  FEOM  FEEDEEICKSBUEG.  193 

next  day  (Monday)  was  passed  in  about  the  same  manner. 
The  fighting  had  been  terrific  along  the  whole  line.  The 
enemy  had  witnessed  the  bravery  and  strength  of  the  North 
ern  army,  and  that  army  respected  the  position  and  strength 
of  the  enemy ;  and  there,  for  two  days,  the  opposing  armies 
stood,  like  two  giants  of  equal  strength,  neither  desiring  to 
to  renew  the  conflict. 

At  length,  on  Monday  night,  December  15th,  General 
Burnside  having  decided  that  the  position  of  the  enemy  was 
impregnable,  ordered  a  retreat  to  the  north  side  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock.  History  will  be  searched  in  vain  for  the  record 
of  a  more  skillful  retreat.  So  well  was  it  executed,  that  the 
next  morning  when  the  rebels  awoke  expecting  to  find  our 
army  in  their  front,  they  beheld  in  amazement  the  vacant 
field,  and  the  river  unbridged  by  pontoons. 

Whether  this  failure  is  chargeable  to  General  Burnside,  or 
to  the  delay  of  the  Quartermaster-General  in  furnishing  pon 
toons,  we,  of  course,  cannot  decide  ;  but  time,  and  impartial 
history  will,  no  doubt,  reveal  the  facts. 

During  the  stay  of  the  Seventy-sixth  at  Fredericksburg, 
when  first  there,  many  "  contrabands "  came  into  our  lines 
and  claimed  food  and  protection,  several  of  whom  remained 
with  the  Regiment.  Among  the  more  notable  were  "  Old 
Archy,"  "Tom,"  and  "Bill."  The  latter  two  were  quite 
small  boys  when  they  first  came,  but  three  years  with  the 
Regiment  worked  a  wonderful  change.  Tom  belonged  to 
a  family  living  in  a  mansion  three  miles  below  Fredericks- 
burg.  This  mansion  was  used  as  a  hospital  during  the  battle. 
Often  during  the  marches,  as  the  Regiment  approached  Fred 
ericksburg,  Tom,  with  the  same  feelings  that  animate  white 
men  on  nearing  home  after  a  long  absence,  would  exclaim  :— 

"  I'se  gwine  home  to  de  ole  house  agin  !" 

N 


194  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  !N".  Y.  Y. 

lie  was  laughed  at,  and  assured  lie  would  never  see  home 
again. 

"  You  '11  see,"  said  Tom.  "  I'se  gwine  to  see  de  ole  house 
agin  !  Wonder  if  Mas'r  '11  be  dar  ?" 

Tom  knew  no  fear.  During  the  hottest  of  the  artillery  fire, 
when  the  heavens  were  full  of  the  deadly  missiles,  he  insisted 
on  remaining  with  Captain  Swan,  his  employer.  When  sent 
back  by  the  Captain,  he  would  return  under  some  pretense, 
to  see  if  "Massa  didn't  want  sufh'n."  Did  the  Captain 
scowl  at  Tom's  persistent  efforts,  his  frowns  would  turn  to 
smiles  at  Tom's  bow,  and  "  Cap'n,  I  thought  you  might  want 
dis  coffee,  so  I  brung  it."  Finally,  during  the  heat  of  the 
battle,  and  after  Doubleday's  Division  had  driven  the  enemy 
a  mile  or  more,  there  appeared  an  old  house  between  the  two 
lines.  Tom  was  missing  an  hour  when  he  again  appeared. 

"Where  have  you  been  Tom?"  inquired  the  Captain. 
"  The  men  said  you  had  turned  reb.,  and  gone  over  to  them." 

"  No,  sar.  Tom  don't  do  dat  ting !  I'se  bin  down  dar  to 
de  ole  house." 

"  What  have  you  been  there  for  3" 

"  'Kase,  dat 's  de  ole  home  !  Tole  ye  all  de  time  I'se  gwine 
to  see  de  ole  house  agin  !" 

Who  says  that  under  that  dark  surface  which  could  thus 
brave  the  tempest  of  fire  from  both  armies  to  obey  a  human 
instinct,  there  is  not  genuine  humanity  ?  Let  the  lie  that  "  the 
negro  is  not  human  "  remain  unspoken. 

Tom  probably  never  saw  "  de  ole  house  agin, "  for  he  re 
treated  with  the  company,  and  was  taken  prisoner  the  next 
summer,  by  the  rebels,  and  that  was  generally  equivalent  to 
death. 

A  day  or  two  after  the  retreat,  the  Seventy-sixth  marched 
a  short  distance  to  a  wood,  and  for  the  third  time  commenced 
to  erect  winter  quarters.  Before  much  progress  had  been 


WINTER  QUARTERS.  195 

made,  they  were  marched  about  ten  miles  further  to  the  Poto 
mac,  near  Belle  Plain.  Camp  was  regularly  laid  out,  and 
building  again  commenced,  when  another  march  of  two  miles 
up  the  river  brought  them  to  a  thick,  tangled  wood.  This 
proved  to  be  the  real  "  winter  quarters  "  which  the  men  had 
so  much  desired.  They  set  briskly  at  work,  and  soon  a  city  of 
log  houses,  surmounted  with  canvas,  rewarded  their  industry. 

The  troops  were  now  hid  away  in  the  woods  which  cover 
the  rough  and  broken  grounds  lying  between  Aquia  Creek, 
Belle  Plain  and  Fredericksburg.  "With  the  exception  of  now 
and  then  a  "  Poor  White,"  who  had  hidden  himself  from  the 
world  in  these  pineries,  it  was  a  howling  wilderness.  The 
trees  were  from  four  to  ten  inches  in  diameter,  showing  that 
some  time  had  elapsed  since  the  "  chivalry  "  overlooked  their 
colored  brethren — literally  speaking — as  they  grubbed  and 
hoed  the  last  crop  of  corn  on  this  land,  and  yet  the  rows  of 
corn  hills  at  this  day,  on  removing  the  forest,  are  plainly  visible. 

A  vast  change  had  come  over  the  men  since  they  first  went 
into  camp  at  Meridian  Hill,  less  than  a  year  before.  Then 
the  cloth  tents  went  up  awkwardly,  the  smoke  of  their  sheet 
iron  stoves  wonderfully  disturbed  the  equanimity  of  their 
owners,  and  fresh  bread  was  considered  a  necessity.  Now, 
stoves  were  not  thought  of,  but  the  men  were  evidently  as 
much  at  home,  if  not  as  happy,  while  sitting  around  their  little 
fireplaces  in  their  log  huts,  as  when  they  used  to  sit  in  their 
quiet  Northern  homes  on  a  winter  evening,  and  hard  tack  had 
become  a  fixed  institution. 

The  men  were,  for  the  first  fortnight  engaged  in  erecting 
their  tents,  and  clearing  the  drill  grounds,  policing  and  pre 
paring  generally  for  winter.  Then  came  the  drill,  interspersed 
with  court  martials,  until  the  soldiers,  even  in  winter  quarters, 
found  their  time  well  employed.  Leisure  hours  were  passed 
very  agreeably  in  visiting  old  acquaintances  in  the  Tenth 


196  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

New  York  Cavalry,  Fiftieth  New  York  Engineers,  One  Hun 
dred  and  Fifty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers,  and  other  New 
York  regiments. 

While  stationed  at  this  point,  our  Division  was  pained  at 
losing  their  brave  commander.  By  priority  of  rank,  General 
Doubleday  was  transferred  to  another  division  of  the  same 
Corps,  and  General  Wadsworth  given  the  command  of  our 
Division. 

The  men  were  familiar  with  the  principles  of  General 
Wadsworth,  and  approved  them ;  but  their  first  experiences 
in  battle  were  under  and  with  General  Doubleday,  and  they 
parted  with  him  with  regret.  General  Doubleday  was  one  of 
those  true  men  wrho  went  to  the  war  from  principle;  With 
comprehensive  views  of  the  questions  involved,  and  the  causes 
of  the  war,  and  a  clear  conception  of  the  character  of 
the  rebel  leaders,  and  the  personal  motives  which  actuated 
them,  he  believed  what  every  one  now  realizes,  that  the  kid- 
glove  style  of  treating  them  would  never  accomplish  anything 
for  the  Union.  With  him,  compromise  was  disloyalty  and 
death  to  the  Government.  General  Doubleday  had  fired  the 
first  gun  from  Sumter,  and  there  learned  lessons  which  wrere 
never  forgotten.  Men  of  different  political  views,  and  look 
ing  at  this  war  from  a  different  stand-point — men  who  could 
walk  the  streets  at  night  in  deep  study  whether  to  espouse  the 
cause  of  the  Union  or  the  Confederacy,  and  the  next  day,  on 
the  receipt  of  a  commission  or  important  command,  "mouth 
it"  for  the  Union  equally  with  the  most  ranting  politician, 
looked  upon  General  Doubleday  as  an  impolitic  radical,  and 
threw  every  possible  obstacle  in  his  way.  But  the  officers  and 
men  who  had  witnessed  his  noble  daring  at  Rappahannock, 
Gainesville,  Bull  Eun,  South  Mountain,  Antietam  and  Fred- 
ericksburg,  and  were  most  intimately  acquainted  with  him, 
knew  but  to  love  him. 


GENERAL  DOUBLED  AY  TRANSFERRED.  197 

On  taking  leave  of  the  Division,  the  General  issued  the  fol 
lowing  brief  address : 

"  In  taking  leave  of  this  command,  I  desire  to  say  one  word  of  farewell. 
Wherever  the  service  may  call  me,  and  whatever  may  be  my  future  lot,  I 
shall  never  forget  the  ties  which  bind  me  to  this  Brigade  and  this  Division. 
I  shall  never  cease  to  remember  the  brave  men  who  stood  by  my  side  in 
some  of  the  most  stupendous  battles  the  world  ever  saw.  Men  who  fought 
against  such  heavy  odds  at  Gainesville  and  the  first  day  at  Bull  Run — who 
stormed  the  hights  at  South  Mountain,  took  eight  standards  from  the  enemy 
at  Antietam,  and  held  their  ground  so  bravely  at  Fredericksburg,  have  won 
my  admiration  and  regard.  I  am  happy  to  have  fought  by  their  side,  and 
proud  of  the  honor  of  having  commanded  them.  I  wish  them  now  at 
parting,  individually  and  collectively,  all  honor  and  success." 

It  was  natural  that  the  men  who  had  followed  him  through 
the  terrible  marches  and  scenes  of  difficulty  and  danger,  on 
the  retreat  saved  by  his  skill,  and  by  the  same  skill  and  cour 
age,  led  by  him  to  victory,  and  who  had  become  proud  of  their 
leader,  should  experience  deep  regret  at  parting. 

Road-making  and  corduroying  were  now  the  order.  Vir 
ginia  roads  made  in  the  usual  method,  are  very  unserviceable 
in  the  army.  Detachments  were,  therefore,  sent  out  daily 
from  the  different  brigades,  to  build  these  corduroy  roads,  and 
General  Wadsworth,  who  had  the  idea  that  honest  labor  is  not 
degrading,  frequently  personally  superintended  the  work,  and 
occasionally  gave  the  men  a  little  aid,  to  show  them  how  it 
should  be  done.  To  see  a  major-general  condescend  to  assist 
in  road-building,  was  rather  gratifying  to  the  democratic  ideas 
of  the  privates,  and,  out  of  respect,  they  christened  him  "Old 
Corduroy."  We  have  no  record  of  the  name  they  gave  him 
when,  at  the  second  Fredericksburg  fight,  he  rode  across  the 
Rappahannock  in  one  of  the  first  boats  sent  out  to  drive  the 
rebel  sharpshooters  from  the  opposite  bank,  swimming  his 
horse  across  the  river.  However  much  he  prized  a  good  road 
over  which  to  travel,  there  was  the  best  of  evidence  that  he 


198  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

was  by  no  means  particular  when  the  object  was  to  get  at  the 
rebels. 

The  regret  at  parting  with  General  Doubled  ay  was  very 
much  alleviated  by  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  Gene 
ral  Wadsworth. 

Even  winter  quarters  afforded  no  sure  guaranty  against 
the  inevitable  order  to  march,  which  always  came  when  the 
men  had  prepared  to  stay. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

A  FORWARD  MOVEMENT— THE   "MUD  MARCH"   OF  BURNSIDE— INCIDENTS  AND  DE 
SCRIPTIONS—DISCIPLINE—FURLOUGHS—THE    SICK   SERGEANT GENERAL  BUBNSIDE 

RELIEVED  BY  GENERAL  HOOKER— REVIEW  OF  THE  ARMT  BY  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN. 

January  20£/*,  1863. — General  Burnside,  anxious  to  retrieve 
his  reputation  as  a  General,  resolved  upon  a  winter  campaign. 
He,  therefore,  issued  the  following  order,  which  was  joyfully 
received  by  the  troops,  now  tired  of  the  dull  routine  of  camp 
life:— 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,      \ 
CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA.,  Jan.  20tli,  1863.  f 

General  Orders,  No.  7. 

The  Commanding  General  announces  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  that 
they  are  about  to  meet  the  enemy  once  more.  The  late  brilliant  actions  in 
North  Carolina,  Tennessee  and  Arkansas,  have  divided  and  weakened  the 
enemy  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  the  auspicious  moment  seems  to  have 
arrived  to  strike  a  great  and  mortal  blow  at  the  rebellion,  and  to  gain  that 
decisive  victory  which  is  due  to  the  country.  Let  the  gallant  soldiers  of  so 
many  brilliant  battle-fields  accomplish  this  achievement,  and  a  fame  the 
most  glorious  awaits  them. 

The  Commanding  General  calls  for  the  firm  and  united  action  of  officers 
and  men,  and,  under  the  providence  of  God,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  will 
have  taken  the  great  step  towards  restoring  peace  to  the  country,  and  the 
Government  to  its  rightful  authority. 

By  command  of 

MAJOR-GENERAL  BURNSIDE, 

LEWIS  RICHMOND,  Assistant  Adjutant- General. 


200  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  "N.  Y.  Y. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  again  on  the  march  toward 
the  enemy.  The  men  were  never  in  better  spirits.  They  felt 
assured  that  this  time  they  were  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  in 
the  face  of  the  foe,  and  there  attack  him ;  but  the  hope  of 
success  gave  elasticity  to  their  steps,  and  buoyancy  to  their 
spirits,  as  they  rushed  southward. 

The  roads  were  in  good  condition,  but  about  four  P.  M.  the 
rain  began  to  fall  in  torrents — not  one  of  those  warm,  refresh 
ing  rains  that  the  men  relish  on  the  dusty  march ;  but  a  cold, 
driving  rain,  that  not  only  saturated  the  clothing,  but  cut  the 
faces  of  the  soldiers  as  they  staggered  forward.  The  Virginia 
roads  were  in  a  few  hours  converted  into  quagmires,  through 
which  it  required  the  greatest  energy  and  perseverance  to 
drag  the  heavy  trains  of  army  wagons  and  artillery,  at  the 
rate  of  a  mile  an  hour.  It  wras  after  dark  before  the  Aquia 
Creek  and  Fredericksburg  Railroad  was  reached,  at  Stone- 
man's  Switch.  Here  the  brigades  went  into  camp,  building 
huge  fires  around  which  the  troops  gathered,  eager  to  warm 
and  dry  themselves,  only  to  lie  down  in  the  mud  and  rain  for 
the  night.  The  rain  continued  unabated,  and  the  prospect  of 
sleep  was  anything  but  nattering. 

To  add  to  the  horrors  of  the  night,  the  wind  blew  a  perfect 
gale.  All  night  the  creaking  of  the  trees,  the  napping  of  the 
canvas  of  officers'  tents,  the  orders  to  the  guards  to  pin  down 
the  canvas,  and  the  torrents  of  rain  descending,  drove  sleep 
from  the  eyes  of  the  weary  soldiers. 

The  next  morning,  after  a  hasty  and  half-cooked  breakfast, 
the  men  continued  their  wade  to  glory.  The  rain  had  not 
ceased  nor  abated.  Ordinary  mud-holes  became  little  lakes  ; 
unpretending  ditches  were  suddenly  transformed  to  large 
creeks,  and  the  men  actually  waded  the  whole  distance  of 
their  march.  Frequently  their  shoes  would  become  detached 
from  their  feet  in  the  mire.  Search  for  them  was  in  vain,  and 


THE  "MUD  MAKCH."  201 

thus  the  men  plodded  on,  sometimes  with  one  shoe,  and  again 
with  neither.  The  supply,  artillery,  and  pontoon  trains  were 
with  great  difficulty  moved  along  at  all.  Now,  a  horse,  from 
sheer  exhaustion,  lay  down  in  his  harness,  and  could  be  in  - 
duced  to  go  no  farther.  Then  a  mule,  immersed  in  mud, 
discouraged  and  exhausted,  unheeding  those  oaths  of  mule- 
drivers  never  equaled  in  civil  life,  unmindful  alike  of 
"  ye-ape's  "  and  cruel  blows,  sank  down  in  the  mud  and  fur 
nished  its  body  to  corduroy  the  road. 

About  three  P.  M.,  the  Brigade  reached  the  place  selected 
for  its  night  bivouac,  having  waded  five  miles.  The  trains 
did  not,  however,  arrive  until  the  next  day.  The  whole 
country  in  this  vicinity  was  full  of  troops,  and  one  with  half 
the  experience  of  our  men,  would  not  be  long  in  concluding 
that  a  general  battle  was  intended.  The  supply  trains  having 
been  left  behind  in  their  old  parks,  the  men  were  obliged  to 
subsist  on  the  contents  of  their  haversacks,  and  the  country 
around  them.  They  now  had  time  to  erect  their  shelter  tents, 
which  they  did  in  a  beautiful  grove,  and  though  the  ground 
was  wet,  and  the  January  weather  not  very  favorable  to  com 
fort,  the  men  felt  comparatively  contented.  Here  the  army 
remained  stationary  over  the  twenty-second  of  January  ;  not, 
however,  unemployed.  The  arms  being  in  bad  condition, 
were  cleaned  and  polished,  clothing  dried  and  cleaned,  and  the 
army  put  in  order  for  the  expected  battle  of  the  morrow. 

If  it  rained  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rappahannock  as  on 
the  north,  the  facetious  rebel  was  not  without  good  reason  for 
writing  the  sign  and  placing  it  in  sight  of  our  troops  : — 
"  BUENSIDE  STUCK  IN  THE  MUD  !" 

January  %3d. — This  day  was  to  have  witnessed  a  forward 
movement  to  the  river,  but  a  short  distance,  and  then  a  hand 
to  hand  fight  with  a  foe  that  hitherto  had  ever  proven  too 
strong  for  our  army  in  Virginia.  It  seemed  that  the  moment 


202          THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

they  touched  Virginia,  they  became  possessed  of  a  spell,  or 
our  army  was  shorn  of  its  strength.  But  instead  of  "forward," 
came  the  order  "  about  face,"  and  our  army,  thwarted  by  the 
elements,  was  on  its  way  back  to  the  old  camping-ground. 

The  sights  which  everywhere  presented  themselves  were 
strange  mixtures  of  the  painful  and  ludicrous.  Shipwrecked 
wagons,  dead  and  dying  mules  and  horses,  heavy  pontoons 
stuck  in  the  mud,  guns  slowly  moving  along,  hauled  by  double 
the  usual  teams,  imparted  a  most,  desolate  and  woe-begone  ap 
pearance  to  the  whole  affair. 

The  army  which,  but  three  days  before  had  so  cheerfully 
shuffled  off  the  ennui  of  camp  life,  now  marched  as  cheerfully 
back  from  the  bitter  experiences  of  those  three  days. 

Only  about  thirty  men  and  a  few  officers  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth,  arrived  with  the  Colonel  at  the  old  camp,  the  remainder 
being  scattered  for  miles  along  the  road.  They,  however, 
arrived  during  that  day  and  the  next. 

The  same  lawless  vandalism  which  usually  attacks  a 
deserted  camp,  had  made  sad  havoc  with  the  camp  of  the 
Seventy-sixth,  carrying  away  boards,  doors,  split  logs,  and 
even  log  cabins ;  but  the  men  were  not  long  in  repairing  the 
damage. 

Back  again  in  camp,  the  Eegiment  continued  that  drill 
which  Colonel  "Wainwriglit  deemed  so  essential  to  the  success 
ful  soldier.  The  recruit  may  possess  true  courage,  and  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  first  campaign  may  carry  him  through 
creditably  ;  but  when  he  settles  down  to  the  actual  life  of  the 
soldier ;  when  fighting  becomes  a  business,  and  enthusiasm 
and  thirst  for  glory  have,  in  a  measure,  given  place  to  other 
emotions,  the  value  of  drill  and  discipline  cannot  be  over-esti 
mated.  Hence  it  was  that  day  after  day  was  passed  by  the 
officers,  commissioned  and  non-commissioned,  in  studying  the 
tactics.  A  commodious  log  school-room  was  erected,  and  here 


DISCIPLINE.  203 

the  principles  of  disciplining,  marching  and  fighting  men, 
were  studied,  recitations  heard,  suggestions  and  explanations 
made,  etc.  These  officers  thus  educated  were  required  to 
communicate  the  instructions  to  the  men  under  their  imme 
diate  command,  and  thus  the  Seventy-sixth  became  one  of  the 
best-drilled  regiments  in  the  service,  and  was  a  source  of  pride 
and  satisfaction  to  Colonel  Wainwright. 

"  How  is  it,  Colonel  "Wainwright,"  said  Colonel  Biddle,  the 
venerable  commander  of  the  Ninety-fifth  New  York,  "when 
I  come  among  your  men,  they  all  salute  me,  and  show  that 

respect  due  my  rank,  while,  when  I  go  out  among  my  d d 

hounds,  they  begin  instead  to  cry,  c  Clams  !  Clams  !' 5:  No 
more  gratifying  contrast  could  have  been  presented  to  our 
Colonel. 

Though  in  civil  life,  all  who  properly  conduct  them 
selves,  are  equal,  yet  such  familiarity  is  very  destructive  to 
discipline  in  the  army. 

This  army  was  made  up  of  fragments  of  armies  which  had 
been  successful  in  North  Carolina,  storming  and  carrying 
Forts  Hatter  as,  Clark,  Macon,  and  the  defenses  of  Newbern  ; 
fought  bravely  on  the  peninsula,  and  in  Pope's  retreat,  and 
finally  hurled  the  enemy  from  Maryland,  and  it  felt  keenly 
the  disgrace  of  a  drawn  battle  at  Fredericksburg,  and  the 
recent  defeat  by  the  elements.  Though  they  had  enjoyed 
enough  of  battle  to  satisfy  their  "  thirst  for  the  'fray,"  they 
chafed  under  these  defeats,  and  longed  to  meet  the  enemy  in 
a  fair  fight.  It  was  necessary,  however,  to  wait  for  this  event 
until  Spring. 

Furloughs  were  now  granted  to  the  men,  but  so  few  at  a 
time,  that  the  chance  of  seeing  home  by  that  red  tape  process 
was  about  as  uncertain  as  a  lottery ;  and  Yankee  ingenuity 
was  often  taxed  to  overcome  that  hesitation  and  uncertainty 
which  characterized  this  department.  Men  grew  suddenly 


204:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

sick,  and  nothing  would  save  their  lives  but  a  trip  home, 
and  the  inhalation  of  Northern  air  ;  and  letters  from  friends 
and  family  physicians  urged  the  men  home  immediately,  if 
they  would  see  their  dying  father,  or  other  near  relative. 

A  Sergeant  of  Company  H,  a  hale,  hearty  fellow,  became 
dangerously  sick.  He  was  sure  he  would  not  live  unless  per 
mitted  to  snuff  the  Northern  breezes.  Dr.  Metcalfe, 
Regimental  Surgeon,  kindly  recommended  a  furlough,  which 
recommend,  after  being  signed  by  the  Colonel,  was  sent  to 
headquarters.  Unfortunately  for  the  Sergeant,  the  Brigade 
Surgeon,  whose  signature  only  was  wanting,  declined  signing 
the  petition,  until  he  could  see  the  man.  Next  morning  he 
proceeded  to  the  camp  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  and,  calling  on 
Dr.  Metcalfe,  went  with  him  to  the  tent  of  the  sick  applicant. 
Coming  to  the  door,  they  knocked  and  were  bid  to  come  in. 
Opening  the  door,  they  beheld  the  invalid  at  the  table,  with 
a  pile  of  wheat  pancakes  about  eight  inches  high,  swimming 
in  butter  and  sugar,  steaming  before  him,  while  his  mouth 
was  too  full  to  readily  respond  to  questions  as  to  his  physical 
condition. 

"  My  God,  Dr.  Metcalfe,"  exclaimed  the  surgeon  ;  "  is  that 
your  sick  man  ?" 

"  I  don't  think,"  replied  Dr.  Metcalfe,  as  he  turned  to  leave, 
"  that  is  the  man.  He  must  be  out." 

The  doctors  enjoyed  the  joke,  but  the  sergeant  recovered 
without  the  trip  North,  and  immediately  on  finishing  his 
breakfast,  reported  to  Captain  Swan  for  duty,  laughingly  re 
marking  that  he  soon  got  well,  after  being  attended  by  two 
physicians  at  once. 

On  the  return  of  the  army  from  the  "  mud  march,"  Gene 
ral  Burnside  was  relieved  by  General  Hooker,  (January 
twenty-sixth,  1863.) 

One  of  General  Hooker's  first  acts  was  the  issue  of  an  order 


ABEAHAM  LESTCOLN.  205 

that  the  number  of  absentees  be  returned  to  his  headquarters, 
when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  number  absent  from  that 
army  was  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-two  com 
missioned  officers,  and  eighty-one  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
sixty-four  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates.  Many  of 
these  were  absent  from  causes  unknown.  This  was  followed 
by  such  action  on  the  part  of  the  new  commander,  as  seemed 
best  calculated  to  prevent  desertions — now  very  prevalent. 
Those  arrested  on  that  charge  were  tried  and  punished.  The 
cavalry,  heretofore  very  inefficient,  was  consolidated,  and  ren 
dered  highly  useful.  "Whenever  the  roads  or  rivers  would 
permit,  expeditions  were  sent  out,  and  thus  this  hitherto  unre 
liable,  though  necessary  arm,  was  encouraged  and  stimulated 
by  its  successes,  however  insignificant,  until  it  became  one  of 
the  most  important  components  of  the  army. 

Early  in  April,  though  the  roads  were  heavy  and  impracti 
cable  for  artillery,  General  Hooker  became  convinced  that  the 
army  was  in  a  condition  to  march  upon  the  enemy  ;  and  hav 
ing  about  forty  thousand  nine  months  and  two  years  men, 
whose  terms  of  service  would  soon  expire,  he  felt  it  necessary 
to  commence  operations  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

The  orders  to  General  Hooker  were  similar  to  those  to  Gen 
eral  Pope.  He  was  required  to  keep  in  view  the  importance 
of  covering  Washington,  either  directly,  or  by  so  operating  as 
to  be  able  to  punish  any  force  sent  against  them; 

April  9^.— The  First  Corps,  to  which  the  Seventy-sixth 
was  attached,  was  reviewed  by  President  Lincoln.  The  elec 
tion  of  Mr.  Lincoln  having  been  made  the  pretense  for  the 
rebellion,  and  the  Northern  army  having  volunteered  to 
refute  the  fallacy  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  it  is  not  sur 
prising  that  of  all  the  men  in  the  country,  Abraham  Lincoln 
stood  highest  among  the  soldiery.  His  name  was,  indeed,  the 
talisman  by  which  they  conquered ;  and  whether  on  the  march 


206  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  BEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

or  around  the  camp-fire,  his  anecdotes  and  illustrations  fur 
nished  an  inexhaustible  remedy  for  all  the  ills  of  soldier-life. 
Even  the  contrabands,  ignorant  and  stupid  as  centuries  of 
oppression  had  made  them,  catching  a  gleam  of  the  effulgence 
of  freedom  just  bursting  upon  them,  in  their  adorations  placed 
"  Massa  Lincum  "  next  to  Deity.  JSTo  wonder  that  the  "  boys 
in  blue  "  cheered  lustily,  and  were  happy,  as  they  witnessed 
the  approving  smile  of  the  President,  on  this  grand  review. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

BATTLE  OP  CHANCELLORSVILLE— GENERAL  WADSWORTH  CBOSSES  THE  RIVER  IN  A  BOAT 
IN  THE  FACE  OF  THE  ENEMY— A  DEAD  KEBEL— BUILDING  BREASTWORKS— BETWEEN 
Two  FIRES— SERGEANT  BAKER  OP  COMPANY  II— PERILOUS  POSITION  OP  THE  SEVEN 
TY-SIXTH— A  MARCH  OP  TWENTY  MILES— ENTERING  THE  BATTLE— SHAMEFUL  CONDUCT 
OP  THE  ELEVENTH  CORPS— JOHN  SMITH  ARRESTS  THE  DUTCHMAN— INEFFICIENCY  OF 
UNDRILLED  NINE  MONTHS  MEN— A  THIRD  RETREAT. 

GENERAL  HOOKER  having  determined  to  strike  a  blow  at 
the  earliest  practicable  moment,  organized  a  campaign  to  start 
about  the  thirteenth  of  April.  The  cavalry,  under  General 
Stoneman,  was  to  proceed  up  the  Rappahannock  some  distance, 
then  cross,  and,  sweeping  down  behind  General  Lee's  position, 
sever  his  communications  with  Eichmond.  The  infantry  was 
to  cross  below  Fredericksburg,  and  attack  or  pursue  Lee's 
army,  as  events  should  render  most  practicable.  The  cavalry 
started  on  its  mission ;  but  a  heavy  rain  storm  shortly  after 
set  in,  which  rendered  the  river  impassable,  and  operations 
were  suspended  until  a  more  favorable  opportunity.  In  the 
meantime  the  men  were  drilled,  clothed  and  disciplined,  and 
everything  betokened  an  advance  as  soon  as  the  elements 
would  permit. 

All  was  at  length  ready.  The  skies  had  cleared  ;  the  roads 
had  become  passable  ;  the  men  were  well-drilled  and  equipped, 
and  everybody  was  hopeful.  Now  was  the  auspicious  time 
when  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  about  to  wipe  out  the 
effects  of  its  late  defeat,  and  all,  from  the  general  in  command 


208  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

to  the  private  in  the  rear  rank,  felt  the  importance  of  the 
hour. 

April  28^A — Orders  were  this  day  received,  to  march  to 
the  Rappahannock.  Haversacks  and  canteens  were  filled,  am 
munition  supplied,  tents  struck,  and  soon  the  whole  army  was 
in  motion.  The  plan  of  operations  was  varied  somewhat  from 
that  adopted  at  the  beginning  of  the  month.  The  cavalry 
was  to  perform  about  the  same  task  as  then  assigned  to  it — 
cross  the  river  and  by  getting  behind  the  rebel  army,  destroy 
its  communication  with  Richmond.  The  bulk  of  the  infantry 
was  to  cross  above  instead  of  below  Frederieksburg,  where  it 
was  expected  the  fatal  blow  would  be  struck  at  Lee's  army. 

The  Fifth,  Eleventh,  and  Twelfth  Corps  were  to  move  up 
the  river,  and  crossing  the  Rappahannock  and  Rapidan  rivers, 
establish  themselves  near  Chancellorsville. 

General  Sedgwick,  with  the  First,  Third  and  Sixth  Corps, 
was  to  remain  in  the  vicinity  of  Frederieksburg. 

Two  divisions  of  the  Second  Corps,  under  General  Couch 
were  held  in  readiness  to  take  a  'position  at  United  States 
Ford,  as  soon  as  the  movements  of  the  main  army  should 
render  it  practicable,  and  to  join  the  main  column  at  Chan 
cellorsville,  when  the  line  should  be  established  there. 

The  force  moving  upon  Chancellorsville,  excluding  the  two 
divisions  under  General  Couch,  did  not  exceed  thirty-six 
thousand  men,  and  the  movement  was  conducted  with  such 
secresy  and  dispatch  that  by  the  night  of  April  thirtieth,  they 
had  gained  the  position  designated. 

Daring  these  operations,  the  left  of  the  army,  in  which  was 
the  Seventy-sixth,  under  General  Sedgwick,  performed  the 
part  assigned  them  in  the  programme,  by  the  commanding- 
general. 

The  Seventy-sixth  broke  camp  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  April. 
A  march  of  fifteen  miles  brought  them  to  what  was  supposed 


GENERAL  WADSWORTH  CROSSING  THE  RAPPAHANOCK.  209 

the  camp  for  the  night,  one  mile  from  the  Rappahannock,  and 
three  miles  below  Fredericksburg.  Scarcely  had  the  weary 
soldiers  laid  down  to  rest,  when  a  secret  order  to  march  was 
given,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night  the  Regiment  was  again 
in  motion.  Yery  slow  progress  was  made.  The  roads  were 
completely  blockaded  with  batteries,  pontoon  and  ammunition 
trains,  and  the  night  being  exceedingly  dark,  the  men  were 
forced  to  pick  their  way  along  singly.  The  river  was  finally 
reached,  four  miles  below  the  city.  The  men  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  were  ordered  to  stack  their  arms  half  a  mile  from  the 
river,  and  assist  in  laying  the  pontoon  bridges.  The  rebel 
pickets  and  sharpshooters  lined  the  opposite  bank,  watching 
the  approach  of  our  men,  and  prepared  to  pick  off  any  who 
should  attempt  to  cross  or  lay  the  pontoons,  while  their  artil 
lery  stood  frowning  further  up  the  hill.  Our  artillery  soon, 
however,  opened  upon  the  enemy,  with  the  intention  of  keep 
ing  him  out  of  sight  behind  his  intrenchments. 

It  w^as  in  this  aspect  of  affairs,  that  General  Wadsworth, 
commanding  the  Division,  crossed  on  a  pontoon,  swimming 
his  horse  beside  him,  before  any  bridge  was  laid,  and  with  the 
"Wisconsin  Brigade,  drove  the  rebel  pickets  from  their  rifle 
pits,  killing  several.  This  bold  adventure  of  the  General  did 
not  fail  to  inspire  the  men  with  confidence  in  their  leader,  who 
could  thus  face  the  most  imminent  danger. 

So  hot  was  the  rebel  fire  that  many  of  the  mules  and  horses 
employed  in  drawing  the  pontoons  were  killed.  It,  therefore, 
became  necessary  to  abandon  them.  Ropes  w^ere  attached  to 
the  wagons,  which  the  Seventy-sixth  seized  and  rushed  to  the 
river  bank. 

Without  excitement  to  buoy  them  up,  the  men  coolly  pro 
ceeded  to  lay  the  bridge,  while  from  an  embankment,  rock  or 
tree  frequently  came  the  ominous  flash,  followed  by  the 
unmusical  "  ping  "  of  a  Minnie  ball,  yet  the  work  continued, 
o 


210  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

and  in  a  very  short  time  the  task  was  completed,  and  the 
troops  crossing  to  occupy  the  identical  ground  occupied  by 
our  army  over  four  months  before. 

Aside  from  the  capture  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  prisoners 
in  their  rifle  pits,  very  little  fighting  took  place  the  first  day. 
In  making  the  capture,  a  few  rebels  were  killed.  On  occupy 
ing  the  ground,  one  poor  "  Johnny  "  was  found  in  a  shed, 
whence  he  had  been  carried  by  his  comrades.  He  was  dead, 
and  in  his  bosom  was  found  a  small  New  Testament.  From  his 
papers,  one  of  which  contained  an  application  to  be  removed 

to  the  Southern  naval  service,  his  name  was  found  to  be  

Jasper,  of  Georgia.  Our  men  kindly  buried  him  close  by 
the  shed,  and  placed  a  head-board  at  his  grave,  the  men  who 
had  probably  killed  him  dropping  a  tear  upon  his  rude  grave. 
Such  instances  but  aggravate  the  crime  of  treason.  Here  was 
a  "  poor  white,"  who  had  either  been  forced  into  the  rebel 
army,  or  induced  to  lift  a  parricidal  hand  against  the  Govern 
ment  by  those  to  whom  he  was  accustomed  to  look  for  advice, 
carrying  that  chart  of  right,  to  guide  him  through  what  he  may 
have  been  induced  to  believe  a  holy  crusade  in  this  life,  to  a 
higher  and  holier  existence  beyond.  When  the  acts  of  time 
are  impartially  judged  by  Him  who  is  unswayed  by  human 
prejudices  and  human  interests,  the  instigators  of  this  rebel 
lion  will  find  an  account  against  them  of  the  magnitude  of 
which,  even  they,  with  all  their  knowledge  of  their  own 
corrupt  intentions,  have  now  but  a  feeble  conception. 

Feeling  certain  of  a  severe  battle  the  next  day,  our  army 
employed  most  of  the  night  in  throwing  up  long  lines  of  par 
apets,  by  the  aid  of  which  they  would  be  enabled,  at  least,  to 
hold  their  ground,  if  not  sufficiently  strong  to  drive  the 
enemy  from  his  position.  The  Seventy-sixth  during  the  night 
demolished  two  large  barns,  with  the  timbers  of  which  they 
erected  a  very  respectable  fortification.  These  works  were 


SECOND  FREDERICKSBURG.  211 

placed  under  charge  of  Colonel  Wainwright,  who  was  active 
the  whole  night,  riding  several  times  the  entire  length  of  the 
line.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  he  was  inspecting 
the  works,  he  met  General  Wads  worth,  who,  quite  alone,  had 
crossed  the  river  and  was  making  a  round  of  inspection.  The 
brave  old  General  had  arisen  to  affluence  and  social  position 
by  his  untiring  energy  and  attention  to  business.  Unlike  the 
other  Generals,  who  were  now  embracing  Morpheus  in  their 
tents,  he  brought  to  the  service  of  his  country  the  same  watch 
ful  vigilance  which  had  made  him  a  millionaire,  and  relin 
quished  sleep  and  ease,  rather  than  neglect  his  duty.  Had 
the  army  been  wholly  commanded  by  men  of  the  same  spirit, 
the  war  had  not  lasted  four  years. 

During  the  night,  Captain  Swan,  of  Company  II,  received 
a  piece  of  shell  in  his  leg.  He  retired  quietly  a  few  yards  in 
rear  of  his  men,  where  he  could  be  ready  in  case  of  need ; 
but  taking  good  care  that  his  men  were  not  disturbed  by  a 
knowledge  of  his  wound. 

Scarcely  had  the  morning  light  appeared,  when  the  rebels, 
discovering  the  position  of  our  forces,  opened  their  batteries 
vigorously  with  shot  and  shell.  The  air  was  literally  filled 
with  the  iron  hail.  In  every  direction  the  ground  was  deeply 
furrowed  by  the  solid  shot,  while  the  bellowing  of  the  cannon, 
shrieking  of  shells,  and  whizzing  and  groaning  of  solid  shot, 
rendered  the  scene,  even  behind  breastworks,  not  a  little 
exciting.  The  excitement  was  greatly  intensified  by  the  firing 
of  some  of  our  own  batteries.  Several  of  these  batteries 
stationed  on  the  heights  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  now 
opened  upon  the  enemy,  firing  over  the  infantry.  The  range 
was  so  long  that  many  of  the  shells  burst  immediately  over 
our  own  men.  They  were  thus  actually  receiving  the  dam 
aging  effects  of  the  shells  of  both  armies. 

In  one  instance,  several  men  declare  they  saw  a  shell  from 


212  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  !N".  Y.  Y. 

each  army  meet  and  burst,  sending  the  fragments  of  both 
directly  into  the  ranks  of  the  Seventy-sixth.  There  are  well- 
authenticated  instances  of  balls  found  by  the  men  of  the 
Regiment,  firmly  imbedded  in  each  other,  having  met  in  mid 
air,  and  fallen  to  the  ground  as  one  ball. 

The  troops,  at  the  opening  of  the  fire,  were  still  using  the 
spades,  which  had  employed  them  most  of  the  night ;  but 
these  were  soon  relinquished,  and  the  men  sought  refuge  be 
hind  their  temporary  fortifications.  The  arms  were  stacked 
at  a  distance  of  forty  paces  from  the  embankment,  and  the 
fire  had  but  just  opened  when  a  solid  shot  sent  a  whole  stack 
of  rifles  whizzing  through  the  air. 

The  good  effects  of  discipline  and  drill  were  here  again  dis 
played.  To  save  their  arms  it  was  necessary  that  the  men 
should  leave  their  refuge  and  expose  themselves  to  this  terrific 
storm,  which  was  done  with  coolness  and  deliberation. 
Among  the  most  conspicuous  for  cool  bravery,  was  Sergeant 
Irving  Baker,  of  Company  II.  Small  in  stature,  but  large  in 
patriotic  courage,  and  strong  in  his  determination  to  do  his 
duty,  he  went  back  and  forth  several  times,  carrying  his  arms 
full  of  guns,  while  his  escape  seemed  each  time  a  miracle. 
He  escaped  unhurt,  to  be,  however,  several  times  wounded 
afterwards.  At  Gettysburg,  the  following  July,  he  displayed 
equal  courage.  The  powder  in  the  cannon  tubes  had  become 
so  damp  from  exposure  to  the  rain  of  the  preceding  night, 
that  the  pieces  could  not  be  discharged.  In  the  midst  of  a 
most  terrific  fire,  Sergeant  Baker,  with  cool  and  steady  nerve, 
actually  picked  out  the  damp  and  primed  the  guns  with  dry 
powder,  an  operation  lasting  several  minutes,  until  he  had 
duly  prepared  seven  or  eight  guns.  This  was  done  in  the 
hottest  of  the  fighting,  and  while  our  dead  and  wounded  were 
falling  around  and  even  against  him !  A  story  is  told  of  Ser 
geant  Baker,  while  stationed  at  Fredericksburg  in  the  summer 


PRIVATE  BAKER'S  CAPTURE.  213 

of  1862,  when  yet  a  private.  One  night,  while  on  guard,  a 
strong  "  six-foot  "  rebel  came  toward  him,  and  was  about  to 
pass  the  line,  as  though  the  slender  boy  of  five  feet,  and  nine 
ty-five  pounds  weight,  constituted  no  impediment. 

"  Halt !     Who  comes  there  ?"  demanded  the  little  private. 

The  rebel,  deeming  no  reply  necessary,  kept  on  until  within 
a  rod  of  the  guard,  when  the  ominous  click  and  steady  aim  of 
the  Enfield  rifle  induced  him  to  pause. 

"  About,  face  !"  said  the  private,  with  such  coolness  and  de 
termination  that  secesh  promptly  obeyed.  "Forward,  march  !" 
shouted  the  boy,  and  through  the  streets  of  Fredericksburg 
the  little  conqueror  marched  the  giant  conquered,  at  each  cor 
ner  giving  the  order  to  "  file  right,"  or  "  file  left,"  until  the 
two  appeared  before  Lieutenant  Story,  officer  of  the  day,  to 
whom  the  prisoner  was  given  over  by  his  captor.  The  proud 
and  aristocratic  rebel  will  ever  have  reason  to  respect  the 
manly  courage  of  the  little  Northern  "  mudsill,"  who  thus,  in 
the  middle  of  the  night,  alone  captured  his  giant  proportions, 
and  made  him  a  prisoner  of  war.  Sergeant  Baker  served  his 
time  out  faithfully,  and  was  well-entitled,  both  by  his  courage 
and  intelligence,  to  a  commission :  yet,  though  four  or  five 
times  wounded,  he  saw  his  merits  unheeded,  while  those  who 
were  never  within  hearing  of  a  battle,  were  given  commis 
sions,  in  consequence  of  outside  political  pressure. 

The  shelling  lasted  about  three  hours,  when  darkness  put  an 
end  to  the  operations  of  the  day. 

The  next  morning  was  very  foggy.  The  Seventy-sixth  was 
ordered  to  advance  part  way  across  the  plain,  and  do  picket 
duty.  The  fog  was  so  dense  that  no  difficulty  was  experi 
enced  in  securing  the  required  position,  though  the  men  were 
liable  at  any  moment  to  stumble  against  a  rebel  picket.  Hav 
ing  reached  the  position,  the  fog  soon  after  lifted,  and  there 
stood  the  Seventy-sixth  within  a  few  rods  of  the  rebel  army ! 


214  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

To  charge  the  enemy  was  not  only  against  orders,  but  involved 
the  sure  destruction  of  the  whole  Regiment,  with  no  possibil 
ity  of  success.  They  were  discovered  by  the  rebels,  wTho  were 
taking  aim  for  a  destructive  volley,  when  every  man  fell  flat 
upon  the  ground,  and  the  terrible  storm  of  bullets  went  safely 
overhead!  Owing  to  inequalities  in  the  surface,  most  of  the 
men  were  protected  while  lying  upon  the  ground.  In  several 
instances,  however,  the  men  were  obliged  to  dig  rifle  pits  with 
their  bayonets  and  knives,  and  thus  hide  their  bodies  from  the 
sight  of  the  enemy.  To  advance  was  impossible  ;  to  retreat 
across  the  plain  certain  destruction.  And  there,  within  a  few 
rods  of  the  rebels,  not  daring  to  lift  a  head  or  hand,  lay  the 
Seventy-sixth  throughout  that  long  and  perilous  day.  At 
length  the  darkness  of  night  permitted  a  retreat,  and  the  Reg 
iment  gladly  escaped  "  out  of  the  jaws  of  death  !" 

During  the  day  several  were  wounded.  One  poor  fellow, 
after  laying  in  misery  several  hours  on  the  field,  insisted  that 
he  had  been  wounded.  He  was  examined  by  two  young  sur 
geons,  who  pronounced  him  unhurt.  He  still  insisted  that  he 
had  a  bullet  in  his  right  breast.  He  was  about  being  thrust 
back  into  his  company  as  a  "  dead  beat,"  when  a  more 
experienced  surgeon  came  up  and  commenced  an  examination. 
Not  a  drop  of  blood  could  be  seen,  nor  a  wound  of  any  kind, 
and  still  he  complained  of  a  severe  pain  in  the  lower  part  of 
his  breast.  The  surgeon  finally  discovered  on  the  shoulder,  a 
small  bullet  hole,  scarcely  perceptible.  The  ball  had  struck 
the  man  on  the  shoulder,  as  he  lay  upon  the  ground,  and  pen 
etrated  his  body  nearly  a  foot ! 

Nothing  is  more  surprising  than  the  instances  of  wounds 
and  recoveries  in  the  army.  Wounds  which,  in  civil  life, 
w^ould  be  considered  as  surely  fatal,  are  almost  as  surely  cura 
ble  in  the  army.  At  Gainesville,  Eli  E.  Peck,  of  Company 
B,  received  a  gunshot  wound  through  the  hips,  the  ball  passing 


BEMARKABLE  KECOVERIES  FROM  WOUNDS.  215 

entirely  through  his  body,  and  being  flattened  in  the  passage. 
He  lay  several  days  upon  the  field,  entirely  unprotected  from 
a  severe  storm  and  the  rays  of  the  sun,  and  yet  to-day  he 
experiences  little  inconvenience  from  the  wound. 

At  the  same  battle,  Captain  Fox  received  a  ball  in  his  lungs, 
which  still  remains  there,  and  yet  he  is  alive  and  engaged  in 
the  active  duties  of  life. 

At  the  same  battle,  Captain  jSager,  of  Company  G,  received 
a  gun-shot  wound,  the  ball  passing  entirely  through  the  body, 
yet  to-day  he  performs  his  accustomed  duties  with  little  incon 
venience. 

At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Sergeant  Cliff,  of  Company 
F,  received  a  wound  which  fractured  his  leg  at  the  knee. 
Unable  to  stir,  he  lay  upon  the  field  for  nearly  a  week,  ex 
posed  to  the  scorching  rays  of  a  July  sun,  without  food  or 
water,  and  when  finally  taken  to  the  hospital,  his  leg  was 
amputated  near  the  body,  and  yet  Sergeant  Cliff  plies  his 
needle  still,  and  measures  his  customers  as  though  he  had 
never  been  in  sight  of  the  smoke  of  battle. 

Lieutenant  Cahill  carries  a  ball  in  his  head,  and  numerous 
other  instances  of  remarkable  escapes  from  death  are  con 
nected  with  the  Seventy-sixth.  Providence  seems  to  shield 
the  hero  who  fights  for  his  country,  from  many  of  the  dangers 
which  surround  him. 

During  the  night  the  Seventy-sixth  was  relieved,  and  joined 
the  main  body  of  the  Left  Grand  Division,  nearer  the  banks  of 
the  river.  As  they  retired,  the  rebels,  thinking  it  a  trap  to 
allure  them  into  our  breastworks,  cried  out  :— 

"  You  can't  catch  us  in  that  way !"  at  the  same  time  firing 
a  parting  salute  into  the  darkness. 

The  Eegiment  was  soon  after  drawn  up  in  rear  of  the 
"  Tayloe  House,'5  now  occupied  as  Brigade  headquarters, 
when  the  rebels  opened  a  brisk  fire  with  shells,  several  of 


216  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K.  Y.  Y. 

which  struck  the  building,  and  others  falling  among  the  men, 
frightening  the  horses,  and  terrifying  the  birds,  which  flew 
from  tree  to  tree  in  the  wildest  confusion.  None  of  the  men 
were  injured. 

The  First  Corps  was  now,  (May  2),  ordered  to  report  to 
General  Sedgwick,  at  Fredericksburg ;  but  this  order  was 
changed,  and  the  whole  Corps,  crossing  to  the  north  side  of 
the  river,  was  hurried  on  towards  United  States  Ford,  up  the 
the  Rappahannock  a  distance  of  about  twenty  miles,  where 
they  bivouacked  for  the  night  without  crossing. 

The  men  were  awakened  about  two  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  May  third,  and  resumed  the  march.  Sleep  had  scarcely 
relieved  them  of  the  wearisome  effects  of  yesterday's  march ; 
but  Hooker  had  been  fighting  the  day  before,  and  in  the  hope 
that  they  were  to  set  the  seal  of  victory  upon  the  battle,  they 
eagerly  pressed  forward  towards  the  ford.  At  daylight  the 
river  was  crossed,  and  at  six  o'clock  the  Regiment  arrived  at 
the  battle-field.  The  fight  soon  opened  with  great  fury.  As 
the  Regiment  crossed  the  river,  a  staff  officer  beckoned  Colo 
nel  Wainwright  from  the  column,  and  said : — 

"  The  men  must  not  know  it,  but  all  is  up  with  the  troops 
on  the  south  side.  Everything  now  depends  upon  your 
Corps." 

On  reaching  the  field,  the  Fifth  Corps  was  found  in  front, 
behind  intrenchments,  perfectly  quiet.  The  Seventy-sixth 
went  into  camp  behind  them.  Not  far  off  was  an  artillery 
battery,  and  the  shouts  of  the  rebels  could  be  distinctly  heard, 
as  they,  with  great  courage,  made  several  successive  charges, 
but  were  each  time  mowed  down  by  the  pieces,  some  thirty  in 
number,  under  charge  of  the  gallant  Captain  "Weed,  after 
wards  killed  as  General  at  Gettysburg, 

Early  in  the  morning,  General  Hooker  made  a  personal 
examination  of  his  whole  line,  at  Chancellorsville,  returning 


BATTLE  OF  CHANCELLOKSVILLE.  217 

about  nine  o'clock  to  his  headquarters.  His  right  was  held 
by  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps,  under  Generals  Slocum 
and  Howard.  Not  feeling  satisfied  with  the  dispositions 
made  by  these  Corps,  he  issued  the  following  instructions  : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  THE  POTOMAC,   ) 
CHANCELLORSVILLE,  May  2, 1863,  9:30  A.  M.  j" 

I  am  directed  by  the  Major-General  commanding,  to  say  that  the  disposi 
tion  you  have  made  of  your  Corps  has  been  made  with  a  view  to  a  front 
attack  by  the  enemy.  If  he  should  throw  himself  upon  your  flank,  he 
wishes  you  to  examine  the  ground,  and  determine  upon  the  positions  you 
will  take  in  that  event,  in  order  that  you  may  be  prepared  for  him  in  what 
ever  direction  he  advances.  He  suggests  that  you  have  heavy  reserves  well 
in  hand  to  meet  this  contingency.  The  right  of  your  line  does  not  appear 
to  be  strong  enough.  No  artificial  defenses  worth  naming  have  been 
thrown  up,  and  there  appears  to  be  a  scarcity  of  troops  at  that  point,  and 
not,  in  the  General's  opinion,  as  favorably  posted  as  might  be. 

We  have  good  reason  to  suppose  that  the  enemy  is  moving  to  our  right. 
Please  advance  your  pickets,  for  purposes  of  observation,  as  far  as  may  be 
safe,  hi  order  to  obtain  timely  information  of  their  approach. 
JAMES  H.  VAN  ALLEN, 

Brigadier-General  and  A.  D.  C. 
MAJ.-GENERAL  SLOCUM,  AND  MAJ.-GENERAL  HOWARD. 

Information  was  soon  brought  to  General  Hooker  that  a 
heavy  column  of  the  enemy  was  moving  toward  his  right,  for 
the  purpose,  as  was  very  evident,  of  making  the  flank  move 
ment  he  had  already  anticipated.  The  above  instructions 
were  immediately  sent  to  the  Generals  commanding  the  right, 
and  General  Sickles,  with  two  divisions  of  the  Third  Corps, 
was  ordered  to  follow  up  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  now 
concealed  from  view  by  the  woods  in  front  of  our  lines. 
General  Sickles  promptly  advanced,  but  did  not  reach  the  line 
of  the  enemy's  movements  until  the  main  column  had  passed, 
lie,  however,  captured  a  large  number  of  their  rear  guards. 
From  these  prisoners  he  learned  that  this  column  of  the 
enemy  consisted  of  General  Jackson's  Corps,  numbering 
about  twenty-five  thousand  men,  and  their  route  was  over  a 


218  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

by-road  through  the  forest,  passing  diagonally  across  the  front 
of  the  Union  lines,  and  approaching  within  two  or  three  miles 
of  the  right  of  our  army,  occupied  by  the  Eleventh  Corps. 
This  Corps,  formerly  commanded  by  General  Siegel,  was  com 
posed  chiefly  of  German  regiments.  There  were  in  it, 
however,  two  or  three  Regiments  of  Americans,  among  which 
was  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  New  York. 

About  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  musketry  was  heard  on 
the  right,  but  nothing  indicating  a  very  severe  engagement. 
Soon,  however,  without  any  apparent  cause,  the  Division  on 
the  extreme  right  broke  and  ran,  and,  flying  along  the  line  of 
the  Eleventh  Corps,  threw  that  whole  body  into  confusion  and 
swept  it  from  the  field.  The  Germans,  after  Pope's  retreat, 
had  frequently  taunted  the  Yankees  with  "We  fight  mit 
Siegel — you  run  mit  Pope !"  but  now  the  tables  were  turned, 
and  just  when  the  whole  result  of  the  battle  depended  upon 
their  remaining  firm,  they  broke  and  ran  in  the  most  cowardly 
manner.  In  vain  in  that  surging  mass  did  the  brave  regi 
ments  attempt  to  preserve  their  line  of  battle.  The  cowardly 
waves  would  overwhelm  them,  until  regiment  after  regiment 
fell  back  upon  the  next  in  the  rear,  and  all  was  confusion. 
All  in  the  Eleventh  Corps  were  not  cowards,  and  many 
instances  of  personal  bravery  are  related. 

John  Smith,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  New 
York,  saw  a  large  Dutchman  running  for  dear  life,  towards 
the  rear.  As  he  neared  Smith  he  placed  his  gun  between  two 
trees,  and  with  one  effort,  snapped  it  in  twain.  On  he  came, 
until  Smith  seized  him  by  the  collar,  and,  giving  him  three  or 
four  good  jerks,  put  him  in  the  line,  placed  in  his  hands  the 
gun  of  a  fallen  hero,  and  compelled  him  to  "  fight  mit "  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  New  York,  until  that  Regi 
ment  was  overwhelmed  in  the  surging  tide  of  retreat. 

Steps  were  taken  to  arrest  the  fugitives  and  prevent  the 


CONDUCT  OF  THE  ELEVENTH  COKPS.  219 

communication  of  the  panic  to  the  whole  army.  Berry's  Di 
vision  of  the  Third  Corps,  and  a  brigade  of  the  Second  Corps, 
were  ordered  to  cover  the  rear  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  and,  if 
possible,  retake  and  hold  the  position.  This  was,  however, 
rendered  impossible,  by  the  occupation  of  it  by  a  large  force 
of  the  enemy,  before  our  troops  could  reach  it.  This  giving 
way  of  the  right  left  General  Sickles  very  much  exposed,  and 
in  a  critical  position.  He,  however,  learning  the  situation  of 
affairs,  very  skillfully  withdrew  without  much  loss. 

The  Seventy-sixth  lay  as  a  support  to  a  battery  of  thirty-six 
guns.  The  forces  under  Jackson  rushed  forward  after  the 
panic-stricken  Eleventh  Corps,  until  they  came  to  this  battery, 
which  opened  a  most  terrific  fire  upon  them,  mowing  them 
down  by  regiments.  Up  came  the  rebel  hosts,  only  to  be 
hurled  back  with  thinned  and  weakened  ranks.  It  was 
during  one  of  these  charges  that  "Stonewall"  Jackson  fell 
mortally  wounded.  The  enemy  being  repulsed  with  severe 
loss,  active  operations  ceased  for  the  night.  While  this  attack 
was  being  made,  General  Lee  was  making  an  attack  upon  the 
Twelfth  and  Second  Corps,  where  he  was  promptly  repulsed. 
General  Hooker  says  of  this  conduct  of  the  Eleventh : — 

The  bad  conduct  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  had  cost  me  the  key  of  iny  posi 
tion,  and  embarrassed  me  by  contracting  my  sphere  of  action.  The  position 
which  had  been  held  by  the  left  of  that  Corps  was  the  most  commanding 
one  in  that  vicinity.  In  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  it  would  enable  him 
with  his  artillery  to  enfilade  the  lines  of  the  Twelfth  and  Second  Corps. 
He  could  drive  from  the  plain  in  front  of  the  Chancellorsville  House,  all  the 
artillery  posted  to  command  the  junction  of  the  plank  road  and  the  old 
pike ;  and  he  could  drive  from  the  plain  all  the  force  that  might  be  upon  it. 
To  wrest  this  position  from  the  enemy  after  his  batteries  were  established 
on  it,  would  have  required  slender  columns  of  infantry,  which  he  could  de 
stroy  as  fast  as  they  were  thrown  upon  it. 

This  was  the  position  of  affairs  on  the  right  at  the  close  of 
the  operations  of  the  day. 


220  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

General  Hooker,  at  nine  o'clock  that  night,  sent  an  order  to 
General  Sedgwick  to  cross  the  Rappahannock,  and  inarch  im 
mediately  on  the  Chancellorsville  road,  until  he  connected 
with  him,  and  to  attack  and  destroy  any  force  he  might  fall 
in  with  on  the  road.  lie  was  directed  to  leave  his  trains 
behind,  except  pack-trains  of  ammunition,  and  to  be  in  the 
vicinity  of  General  Hooker  at  daylight,  to  fall  upon  the  rear 
of  General  Lee,  who,  it  was  expected,  would  be  used  up 
between  the  two  Union  armies.  General  Gibbon  was  to  take 
possession  of  Fredericksburg.  At  midnight,  General  Hooker 
sent  the  following  to  General  Sedgwick  :— 

MAY  3d,  1863—12  Midnight. 
Major-General  Sedgwick  :— 

From  the  statement  brought  by  General  Hooker's  aid,  it  seems  to  be  of 
vital  importance  that  you  should  fall  upon  Lee's  rear  with  crushing  force. 
He  will  explain  all  to  you.  Give  your  advance  to  one  who  will  do  all  that 
the  urgency  of  the  case  requires. 

DANIEL  BUTTEHFIELD, 

Major-General,  Chief  of  Staff. 

General  Sedgwick's  Corps  consisted  of  from  twenty-two 
thousand  to  twenty-five  thousand  men,  who,  with  General 
Gibbon  to  occupy  Fredericksburg,  were  left  at  liberty  to  make 
the  movement  directed  by  General  Hooker.  The  forces  of 
the  enemy  occupying  the  defenses  of  Fredericksburg  amounted 
to  perhaps  ten  thousand  men.  The  balance  of  the  rebel  army 
was  in  front  of  General  Hooker,  seven  or  eight  miles  above 
Fredericksburg. 

The  movement  directed  was  commenced  by  General  Sedg 
wick,  but  instead  of  communicating  with  Hooker  by  daylight, 
as  directed,  no  demonstration  was  made  upon  the  heights  of 
Fredericksburg  until  after  that  time,  and  the  heights  were  not 
carried  until  eleven  o'clock  the  third  of  May.  The  enemy  had 
by  that  time  discovered  the  movement  and  sent  reinforce 
ments  to  Fredericksburg  offering  much  stronger  resistance 


GENEKAL  SEDGWICK  FAILS  TO  CONNECT.  221 

to  the  advance  of  General  Sedgwick  than  he  would  have  met 
had  General  Hooker's  orders  been  obeyed. 

At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  third,  the  enemy 
renewed  the  attack,  which  was  bravely  resisted  until  eleven 
o'clock,  when  a  new  line  was  chosen  and  taken  in  good  order. 

The  position  which  was  thus  abandoned  had  been  held  at 
great  disadvantage,  and  only  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  of  the 
approach  of  General  Sedgwick. 

Shortly  after  the  attack,  General  Hooker  was  injured  by  a 
cannon  ball,  which  knocked  him  against  a  pillar  of  the  house 
in  which  he  was.  The  command  then  devolved  upon  General 
Couch  as  the  senior  officer.  After  this,  the  operations  of 
neither  army  were  carried  on  with  much  activity.  For  two 
days  assaults  were  made  by  the  rebels  upon  exposed  portions 
of  our  line,  but  they  were  easily  repulsed. 

An  amusing  incident  occurred  in  the  rear  and  to  the  left, 
illustrating  the  danger  of  relying  upon  undisciplined  troops  in 
action,  and  the  utility  of  persistent  drill.  A  brigade  of  Kew 
Jersey  nine  months  men,  under  General  Paul,  afterwards  shot 
through  the  head  at  Gettysburg,  ftd  been  stationed  with  one 
of  those  interminable  southern  thickets  directly  in  front  of 
them,  through  which  no  body  of  troops  could  possibly  ad 
vance — in  fact,  as  good  as  a  breastwork.  These  nine  months 
men  had  seen  no  service,  and  being  near  the  battle-field, 
every  cracking  bush  was  indicative  of  the  advance  of  a  large 
army.  While  thus  stationed,  two  or  three  of  their  own  men, 
having  occasion  to  visit  the  thicket,  chanced  to  step  upon  a 
dry  limb,  when  the  unfledged  warriors  of  the  brigade,  officers 
and  men,  in  imagination  saw  the  whole  of  Lee's  army  in  their 
immediate  front.  The  order  to  fire  was  scarcely  given,  before 
a  volley  was  poured  into  the  thicket  by  the  entire  Brigade. 
This  was  immediately  followed  by  another,  when  the  mistake 
was  fortunately  discovered  before  anything  serious  resulted, 


THE  SEYENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

and  the  firing  ceased.  To  the  want  of  drill  be  it  credited,  that 
though  the  men  who  caused  the  alarm  were  in  plain  sight, 
few  rods  distant,  neither  of  them  was  injured  by  this  firing. 
This  will  in  part  explain  why  nine  months  men  never  added  to 
the  strength  or  efficiency  of  the  army. 

General  Sedgwick  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock.  Gen 
eral  Stoneman  had  failed  to  sever  the  communications  of  Lee's 
army  with  Richmond.  General  Hooker  was  incapacitated  by 
reason  of  the  accident  which  had  happened  to  him,  and  to 
add  to  the  perils  of  the  situation,  a  severe  rain  storm  set  in  on 
Tuesday,  May  fifth,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  rendering  the  river 
impassable  at  the  fords  in  a  short  time.  Under  these  trying 
circumstances,  and  in  view  of  his  instructions  to  cover  Wash 
ington  and  Harper's  Ferry,  General  Hooker  at  length 
determined  to  recross  the  river.  This  was  accordingly  done, 
and  on  the  morning  of  May  sixth,  the  whole  Union  army  was 
north  of  the  Rappahannock. 

The  retreat  was  conducted  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  storm. 
The  night  was  very  dark.  The  ground,  which  was  almost 
deluged  with  water,  had  become  muddy  and  soft,  and 
altogether  this  third  retreat,  under  the  existing  circumstances, 
was  not  well  calculated  to  inspire  hopes,  or  strengthen  the 
men's  attachments  for  soldiers'  life. 

In  the  afternoon  the  Seventy-sixth  arrived  at  Falmouth, 
within  a  mile  of  the  camp  from  which,  they  started  on  the 
previous  Saturday,  wet,  tired,  and  it  will  not  be  wondered  at 
if  nearly  discouraged  at  these  repeated  failures  to  accomplish 
anything  really  decisive. 

On  the  ninth  the  Regiment  was  moved  a  short  distance  to 
a  pleasant  pine  grove,  where  the  men  were  soon  at  home  in 
buildings  of  their  own  erecting,  and  where,  with  rest  and 
pleasant  surroundings,  they  soon  forgot  the  discouragements 
of  the  retreat. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  RECRUTING— ANN  REDMOND— TRADING  BETWEEN  THE  PICKETS— 
MARCH  OP  THIRTY-FIVE  MILES  IN  ONE  DAY— COLONEL  WAINWRIGHT  TAKES  His  LEAVE 
OF  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH—HEAT,  DUST  AND  SUN-STROKE— AGAIN  IN  MARYLAND— CAMP- 
INO  IN  THE  MUD— MARCH  PAST  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN— RECEPTION  AT  FREDERICK  CITY 
—CHANGE  OF  COMMANDERS— ACTS  or  GENEROSITY  BY  THE  PEOPLE— AMUSING  INCI" 
DENT— MUSTER  FOR  PAY— THE  ROLLS  NEVER  SIGNED. 

May  13th,  1863.— The  Seventy-sixth  had  now  dwindled  to 
a  mere  skeleton  of  its  former  self.  Honorable  service,  with 
the  diseases  incident  to  change  of  climate,  wrater  and  mode  of 
life,  had  sadly  thinned  its  patriotic  ranks.  At  this  date  the 
first  addition  of  men  was  made.  About  fifty  were  added 
from  the  Twenth-fourth  New  York  Volunteers.  The  balance 
of  that  regiment  had  been  discharged  on  expiration  of  term 
of  service.  The  Regiment  was  still  further  increased  on  the 
twenty-fourth  of  May,  by  the  addition  of  five  officers  and 
about  two  hundred  men  from  the  Thirtieth  New  York  Volun 
teers. 

A  month  was  spent  in  this  lovely  camp.  The  thermometer 
ranged  high ;  the  air  was  dry  and  the  roads  dusty ;  but  hidden 
away  in  the  dense  pine  wroods,  the  soldiers  rapidly  recruited 
their  strength.  Colonel  "Wainwright  could  not  forego  the  drill 
which  he  correctly  deemed  so  essential  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
army.  This,  with  the  picket  duty  along  the  Rappahannock 
below  Fredericksburg,  kept  the  soldiers  sufficiently  employed 
to  dispel  the  ennui  engendered  by  camp  life.  The  woods 


224:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

were  full  of  game,  especially  rabbits.  These  were  so  numer 
ous  that  often  the  young  were  trodden  under  foot  in  camp. 
This  gave  Ann  Kedmond,  of  whom  we  have  already  spoken, 
occasion  for  the  exercise  of  the  kindlier  emotions  of  her 
nature.  For  nearly  two  years  she  had  stood  by  our  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers,  marching  with  them  hundreds  of  miles, 
washing  for  them,  and  when  in  pain,  kindly  watching  over 
them  and  administering  to  their  wants,  and  by  her  mirthful 
conversation  and  hearty  laugh,  driving  away  many  of  those 
gloomy  forebodings  which  are  the  bane  of  the  soldier's  life. 
E~ow  that  the  soldiers  no  longer  needed  her  care,  she  sought 
to  make  herself  useful  to  the  brutes.  Many  of  these  young 
rabbits  were  taken  into  her  tent  and  nursed  with  all  the  fond 
ness  of  Ann's  heart ;  but  generally  her  labor  wras  vain,  as  the 
little  pets  would  die  from  sheer  fright. 

As  the  month  wore  away  and  the  pickets  of  the  opposing 
armies  lined  either  side  of  the  river,  a  friendly  feeling  grew 
up  between  them,  and  quite  an  active  commerce  was  the 
result.  Picket  firing — never  indulged  in  by  properly  disci 
plined  armies  of  civilized  nations — had  ceased,  and  the  men 
held  daily  conversations  together.  Then  came  the  proposition 
to  exchange  tobacco  for  coffee,  which  was  accepted.  At  first 
little  boats  of  board,  with  paper  sails,  were  sent  across,  return 
ing  laden  with  the  promised  article.  Then  the  pickets  grew 
more  familiar,  and  swimming  the  river,  made  visits  to  the 
"  enemy's  "  side,  and  indulged  in  a  game  of  cards,  and  other 
camp  sports.  Newspapers  were  exchanged,  and  a  general 
friendly  feeling  engendered.  How  strange  that  in  less  than 
one  month  these  trading  friends  were  engaged  in  a  desperate 
struggle  on  the  sanguinary  field  of  Gettysburg,  hundreds  of 
miles  distant ! 

The  latter  part  of  May  it  became  apparent  from  the  conduct 
of  the  rebels,  and  the  reports  brought  in  by  our  scouts,  that 


OKDEES  TO  MARCH.  225 

General  Lee  was  contemplating  some  grand  movement.  Gen 
eral  Hooker  became  satisfied  that  it  was  not  a  simple  raid,  but 
an  extensive  movement  of  the  whole  rebel  army,  similar  to 
that  of  the  year  previous,  which  resulted  in  the  battles  of 
South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  The  General,  comprehending 
the  necessity  of  vigorous  and  united  effort  against  Lee5  submit 
ted  to  President  Lincoln  a  proposition,  that  all  the  troops  whose 
operations  could  have  any  influence  on  those  of  Lee's  army, 
should  be  placed  under  the  control  of  one  commander.  He  at 
the  same  time  signified  to  the  President,  that  he  (General 
Hooker)  might  not  be  considered  in  the  way  of  this  arrange 
ment,  as  it  was  a  position  he  did  not  desire,  and  only  suggested 
it  because  of  the  necessity  he  felt  for  concert  as  well  as  vigor 
of  action.  In  reply,  General  Hooker  received  notice  that  Gen 
erals  Ileintzelman  and  Dix  had  been  instructed  to  telegraph 
him  all  the  movements  which  they  might  ascertain  or  make. 
Also,  that  directions  had  been  given  to  forward  military 
information  which  might  be  received  from  General  Schenck's 
command.  But  at  the  same  time,  no  authority  was  given 
General  Hooker  over  them  nor  was  any  commander  appointed. 
For  two  weeks  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  in  that  state  of 
unrest  and  uncertainty  which  precedes  a  grand  advance. 
Orders  to  strike  tents  and  prepare  to  march  at  one  o'clock  A. 
M.  would  be  immediately  followed  by  orders  to  pitch  .tents, 
and  soon  the  boys  were  asleep  as  though  nothing  had  hap 
pened.  This  was  often  repeated  until  at  last,  on  the  twelfth 
of  June,  the  army  took  up  its  march  toward Warrenton;  The 
men  had  been  given  rest  and  were  now  in  excellent  spirits, 
and  ready  for  any  duty,  though  it  led  them  to  a  renewal  of 
those  severe  conflicts,  the  novelty  of  which  had  long  since 
passed  away.  The  Regiment  was  on  picket  at  Pratt's  Point 
when  the  order  to  march  was  received,  which  was  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  The  night  was  very  dark,  and  the  men 
p 


226  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  !N".  Y.  V. 

stretched  over  an  extent  of  four  miles.  It  was  day-light 
before  the  last  squad  had  arrived,  and  the  march  for  camp 
commenced.  Before  reaching  camp,  word  was  received  that 
the  Brigade  had  marched.  The  course  of  the  Regiment  was 
changed,  and  at  one  P.  M.,  the  Brigade,  having  halted  to 
execute  a  deserter,  was  overtaken  by  the  Regiment.  The  Sev 
enty-sixth  arrived  just  in  time  to  hear  the  fatal  volley,  and  the 
army  was  immediately  in  motion,  giving  no  time  for  rest  to 
our  weary  men. 

It  was  nine  o'clock  that  night  before  the  Regiment  went 
into  bivouac.  They  had  been  in  motion  nineteen  hours,  and 
traveled  thirty-five  miles !  No  man  who  endured  that  march 
will  readily  forget  it.  The  weather  was  hot,  the  roads  dusty,  and 
many  of  the  men,  with  great  difficulty,  managed  to  keep  with 
the  Regiment.  Yet  with  blistered  feet  and  aching  shoulders, 
they  plodded  on.  This  march,  unequaled  in  the  history  of 
this  war,  would  seem  to  entitle  them  to  a  little  rest,  but  at 
two  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  men  were  called  from  their 
weary  bivouac,  and  marched  twenty  miles  before  6  o'clock  P.M. 
The  distance  in  miles  will  scarcely  convey  an  adequate  idea  of 
the  labor  performed.  The  roads  were  so  blocked  with  troops 
and  trains  that  for  hours  little  progress  was  made,  the  troops 
standing  in  readiness  to  march,  the  wearying  effects  of  stand 
ing  about  equaling  those  of  actual  marching. 

The  Seventy-sixth  arrived  at  Centreville  on  the  sixteenth, 
and  remained  two  days.  While  here,  Colonel  Wainwright 
left  the  Regiment  on  account  of  sickness  and  never  returned.  It 
could  not  afford  to  lose  so  able  and  earnest  an  officer.  With 
him,  war  meant  fight ;  and  to  prepare  for  fighting,  he  deemed 
drill  and  discipline  and  proper  selection  of  subordinate  offi 
cers  absolutely  necessary.  Upon  entering  the  Regiment  he 
commenced  a  regular  military  school.  The  men  thought  him 
unnecessarily  strict  in,  and  tenacious  of  drill ;  but  they  after- 


COLONEL  WAINWKIGHT  LEAVES  THE  REGIMENT.      227 

ward,  in  many  a  severe  battle,  while  other  regiments  of  as 
good  men  broke  and  ran,  the  Seventy-sixth  winning  for  itself 
laurels  by  its  steadiness  and  courage,  had  reason  to,  and  did, 
heartily  approve  of  those  drills.  To  his  qualities  as  a  disci 
plinarian,  Colonel  Wainwright  added  attention  to  the  wants 
of  his  men,  their  physical,  mental  and  moral  developements, 
himself  a  model,  which  every  man  might  follow  with  profit. 
AV~e  parted  with  the  Colonel  with  regret,  and  trust  that  the  fu 
ture  pages  of  the  history  of  the  Regiment  will  convince  him 
that  the  precepts  and  example,  the  drill  and  discipline  which 
he  gave  the  Regiment,  were  not  given  in  vain. 

Captain  Grover,  of  Company  A,  having  partially  recovered 
from  the  severe  wounds  received  at  Gainesville,  and  been  com 
missioned  Major  of  the  Regiment,  now  took  command,  and 
continued  such  command  until  his  death  at  Gettysburg. 

The  movements  and  intentions  of  the  enemy  were  now 
becoming  well  understood.  They  had  determined  upon  an 
invasion  of  Maryland,  and  probably  Pennsylvania,  with 
possible  ultimate  intentions  upon  Baltimore  and  Washington. 
The  plan  of  General  Hooker  wras  to  permit  them  to  advance 
to  a  favorable  point,  and  then,  while  covering  Washington,  to 
strike  with  the  whole  force  at  his  command,  and  fight  a  decisive 
battle. 

After  leaving  Centreville,  on  the  seventeenth,  the  army 
moved  towrard  Leesburg.  The  day  was  extremely  hot.  The 
march  was  made  through  a  dense  forest  of  pine  shrubs,  which, 
while  furnishing  no  shade  to  protect  from  the  scorching  rays, 
prevented  any  good  effects  from  cool  breezes,  if  any  existed, 
in  that  sultry  climate.  The  roads  were  filled  with  wagons, 
batteries,  cavalry,  infantry,  artillery,  all  rushing,  halting, 
sweating.  The  dust  arose  in  suffocating  clouds,  was  inhaled 
at  every  breath,  and  settling  upon  faces  from  which  the  perspi 
ration  flowed  at  every  pore,  soon  rendered  the  face  of  the  most 


228  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

intimate  friend  indistinguisliable  in  the  surging  crowd.  Many 
fell  down  in  the  ranks  from  sun-stroke  and  exhaustion.  Even 
officers  fell  from  their  horses  from  the  effects  of  the  suffocating 
dust  and  heat.  An  open  country  was  finally  readied,  and  the 
Seventy-sixth  went  into  camp  near  a  small  creek  and  the  Lees- 
burg  railroad.  One  day  of  rest  was  given,  during  which 
many  who  had  fallen  out  the  day  before,  came  up  and  re 
joined  their  commands.  On  the  nineteenth,  marched  four  miles 
and  re-encamped  at  Goose  Creek. 

At  two  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  the  twentieth,  orders  were  re 
ceived  to  march.  The  men  were  ready,  but  no  order  came 
to  "  fall  in,"  and  gradually  the  excitement  passed,  and  the 
men  settled  down  to  camp  life.  The  cavalry  engaged  the 
rebels  at  Aldie,  and  our  Brigade  wras  to  support  the  cavalry, 
but  that  arm  of  the  service  behaved  with  such  gallantry  and  effi 
ciency  that  they  won  the  battle  and  drove  the  enemy  across 
the  mountains  without  any  support  from  the  infantry,  and  the 
orders  to  our  Brigade  were  countermanded. 

On  the  twenty-fifth,  the  Regiment  marched  eight  miles 
and  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Edward's  Ferry.  At  length, 
out  of  the  secession  atmosphere  of  "  the  Mother  of  Presidents" 
of  the  olden  time,  and  the  breeder  of  traitors  of  the  new, 
and  on  the  soil  of  at  least  semi-loyal  Maryland,  the  men  could 
not  repress  a  shout  of  joy.  Civilians  will  scarcely  appreciate 
the  change.  But  the  soldier  who  has  spent  a  year  in  a  State 
where  even  the  "  poor  white  trash"  feel  corrupted  by  contact 
with  the  shadow  of  the  old  flag,  without  one  smile  of  recog 
nition  of  their  heroic  sacrifices,  continually  taunted  as  a  Yan 
kee  horde  of  invaders,  can  well  understand  the  kindly  smile  of 
welcome  from  the  window  and  door-way,  while  the  "  flag  of 
our  Union"  waves  from  the  porch  and  house-top.  ~No  wonder 
that  our  boys  shook  off  the  dust  of  "  old  Virginia"  against  her, 
and  sent  up  a  shout  for  "  My  Maryland,"  wayward,  erratic, 


AGAIN  OUT  OF  VIRGINIA.  229 

and  hesitating,  though  at  times  she  had  proved  herself.  The 
men  felt  the  inspiration  as  of  new  life,  and  though  weary  with 
their  march,  and  the  rain  had  already  set  in,  making  the  roads 
slippery  and  heavy,  they  marched  twenty  miles,  passing 
through  Poolesville,  and  going  into  camp  near  Barnesville, 
Maryland.  The  Regiment  was  stationed  in  a  cornfield  where 
the  water  stood  from  three  to  six  inches  between  the  rows  of 
corn.  Of  all  the  songs  and  rhymes  written  to  show  the  beau 
ties  of  the  different  seasons  and  the  multifarious  phases  of  hu 
man  existence,  we  do  not  remember  of  any  in  which  the 
author  fell  into  ecstacies  over  sleeping  in  a  mud-puddle.  A 
strong  guard  was  stationed  about  camp  to  prevent  any  escapes  ; 
but  to  the  credit  of  the  guard  be  it  said,  that  the  next  morn 
ing  most  of  the  men  were  found  encamped  in  a  piece  of  woods 
on  a  dry  knoll  across  the  road,  where  they  should  have  been 
placed  by  the  proper  authorities  the  night  before.  General 
Wadsworth,  with  characteristic  kindness,  bought  a  stack  of 
straw  for  his  Division  to  sleep  upon.  The  next  morning  at 
9  o'clock,  the  men  rolled  up  their  wet  blankets,  making  their 
load  about  three  times  its  usual  weight,  and  inarched  sixteen 
miles  through  the  rain  and  mud.  This  day  passed  Sugar  Loaf 
Mountain,  and  went  into  camp  at  Jefferson,  Maryland. 

June  2T^A. — Marched  through  Middletown  and  camped 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  battle-field  of  South  Moun 
tain.  As  the  men  came  in  sight  of  that  field  where  so  many 
of  their  comrades  offered  up  their  lives,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
they  inwardly  shuddered  at  the  recollection  of  that  awful 
slaughter,  and  speculated  upon  the  prospect  of  being  again 
called  upon  to  renew  it.  The  next  day  marched  to  Frederick 
City,  which  the  patriotic  and  humane  Whittier  has  made  im 
mortal  as  the  home  of  the  heroic  Barbara  Frietchie.  To-day, 

more  than 

"  Forty  flags  with  their  silver  stars, 
Forty  flags  with  their  crimson  bars, 
Flapped  in  the  mornitfg  wind." 


230  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Old  Barbara's  heart  rejoiced  at  the  sight  of  the  "  glorious 
ensign  of  our  republic  still  full  high  advanced"  from  every  win 
dow  and  house-top  as,  instead  of,  as  the  year  before, — 

"  Up  the  street  carne  the  rebel  tread, 
Stonewall  Jackson  riding  ahead," 

now  came  the  steady  columns  of  "  the  boys  in  blue."  What  a 
mingling  of  voices  was  that,  as  the  thankful  maiden's  voice,  in 
songs  and  words  of  welcome,  mingled  with  the  coarser  but 
patriotic  shouts  of  Maryland's  heroic  defenders  ! 

June  28th. — To-day  General  Hooker  was  relieved  of  his 
command,  which  was  given  to  General  Meade.  A  difficulty 
had  arisen  between  General  Hooker  and  General  Halleck,  of 
the  latter  of  whom  it  has  been  remarked  : — "He  proved  his 
pen  to  be  mightier  than  his  sword !"  There  were  about  ten 
thousand  troops  at  Harper's  Ferry.  General  Hooker  thought 
the  possession  of  that  place  of  no  practical  benefit  to  our  ar 
my,  and  requested  permission  to  withdraw  those  troops  and 
unite  their  strength  with  that  of  the  army  marching  against 
Lee.  Without  the  Harper's  Ferry  troops,  the  armies  were 
about  equal  in  numbers,  and  the  result  of  a  battle  under  those 
circumstances  must,  at  least,  be  doubtful.  Instead  of  orders 
to  withdraw  the  troops  from  Harper's  Ferry,  General  Hooker 
received  an  order  from  General  Ilalleck  disapproving  of  the 
withdrawal  of  the  troops,  and  directing,  if  necessary,  that  the 
place  be  strengthened  by  an  addition  of  troops  from  Hooker's 
army.  General  Hooker  says  :  . u  On  finding  that  I  was  not 
allowed  to  manoeuvre  my  own  army  in  the  presence  of  the  en 
emy,  and  conscious  that  I  was  standing  in  the  way  of  the 
accomplishment  of  its  mission,  on  the  same  day,  the  twen 
ty-seventh  of  June,  I  sent  General  Halleck  the  following  tele 
graph  : — 

June  27th,  1863—1  P.  M. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK  :— 

My  original  instructions  were  to  cover  Harper's  Ferry  and  Washington. 


GENEKAL  HOOKER  BELIEVED.  231 

I  have  now  imposed  on  me  in  addition  an  enemy  in  my  front  of  more  than 
my  numbers.  I  beg  to  be  understood,  respectfully,  but  firmly,  that  I  am 
unable  to  comply  with  these  conditions  with  the  means  at  my  disposal,  and 
I  earnestly  request  that  I  may  be  at  once  relieved  from  the  position  I  oc 
cupy.  JOSEPH  HOOKER, 

Major-General  Commanding." 

The  next  morning  Colonel  Hardie  arrived  with  an  order 
from  General  Halleek,  relieving  General  Hooker  from  com 
mand  and  directing  him  to  turn  it  over  to  General  Meade. 
This  terminated  the  connection  of  General  Hooker  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  We  have  seen  how  well  he  fought 
while  connected  with  this  army,  and  his  subsequent  fighting 
above  the  clouds  on  Lookout  Mountain,  will  make  his  name 
shine  in  the  annals  of  history,  when  other  Generals,  pampered 
and  petted  by  the  War  Department,  will  have  been  buried  in 
oblivion.  In  this  refusal  of  the  troops  to  General  Hooker,  as 
in  many  other  things  connected  with  the  conduct  of  the  Gen 
eral  who  fought  his  battles  in  the  parlor  in  Washington,  there 
is  much  that  has  never  been  satisfactorily  explained.  Imme 
diately  after  General  Meade  assumed  command,  not  only  was 
he  authorized  to  use  the  troops  refused  to  General  Hooker,  but 
was  given  other  troops  for  which  General  Hooker  had  not  ask 
ed.  It  is  the  opinion  of  able  men  with  the  evidence  fully 
before  them,  that  had  General  Hooker  been  clothed  with  the 
power  at  once  conferred  upon  General  Meade,  and  been  given 
the  assistance  which  was  so  freely  accorded  to  him,  the  result 
of  the  campaign  might  have  •  been  far  more  decisive  than  it 
was. 

June  %Wi. — The  Seventy-sixth  was  to-day  detailed  as  wag 
on  guard,  and  marched  thirty  miles  to  Emettsburg.  Much 
of  the  way  was  through  fields,  frequently  for  miles  upon  the 
double  quick,  and  yet  the  men  felt  less  weariness  than  on 
many  other  marches  of  half  the  distance.  The  crossing  of 
the  fields  was  made  necessary  in  consequence  of  the  blockade 


232  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  V. 

of  the  road  by  ambulances,  ammunition  trains  and  troops,crowd- 
ing  all  the  main  streets,  and  all  tending  in  the  direction  of 
Gettysburg.  The  line  of  march  was  through  a  most  fruitful 
region  of  country.  On  every  side,  huge  cherry  trees,  loaded 
with  their  ripe,  delicious  fruit,  invited  the  thirsty  and  fruit- 
hungry  boys  to  the  commission  of  trespasses  ;  but  this  wras  not 
an  enemy's  country,  and  so  the  boys  desisted.  Had  it  been 
in  Virginia,  the  owner  might  have  congratulated  himself  had 
his  trees  survived  the  passage  of  the  army. 

As  the  army  neared  that  line  which  had  heretofore  separat 
ed  the  free  from  the  slave,  the  people  grew  more  intensely  and 
heartily  loyal.  The  road  sides  became  lined  with  ladies,  old 
and  young, — it  may  be  homely,  but  especially  lovely  to  the 
Union  soldiery — as  each,  with  a  pail  and  dipper  or  cup,  dealt 
out  the  cooling  draughts  of  water,*and  frequently  of  milk,  to 
the  thirsty  heroes.  Frequently  loaves  of  fresh  bread,  kneaded 
by  loyal  hands  and  tendered  writh  pleasant  smiles  of  welcome, 
and  aprons  full  of  ripe  cherries,  were  presented  by  blushing 
young  maidens  with  words  of  encouragement,  giving  to  them 
a  double  relish.  "  Take  a  few  cherries ;  they  will  strengthen 
you  for  your  march !"  said  the  beautiful  maiden.  "  You 
look  weary,  sir,  have  a  little  milk,"  said  the  girl.  "Put  this 
loaf  of  bread  in  your  haversack,"  said  the  matron.  "  God 
bless  the  heroes  who  defend  us  !"  shouted  the  group  of  thank 
ful  Marylanders.  "  Three  cheers  for  our  friends  !"  shouted 
the  sergeant,  and  along  the  whole  line  the  shout  of  the  heroic 
North  thanked  Maryland's  generosity.  Is  it  surprising  that 
this  day's  march  of  thirty  miles  passed  off  as  a  mere  holiday 
parade  ?  God  bless  the  loyal  females  of  Northern  Mary 
land, 'for  the  inspiration  which  they  thus  poured  into  the 
heroic  bosoms  of  those  patriotic  soldiers.  Who  can  estimate 
its  influence  upon  them  during  the  awful  carnage  of  the  three 
days  at  Gettysburg  ?  Poor  fellows  !  to  many  of  them  it  was 


PATKIOTIO  MARYLAND.  233 

the  last  kind  act  they  received  on  earth.  May  we  not  hope  it 
was  a  harbinger  of  that  "  well  done,  good  and  faithful,"  which 
they  soon  after  received  on  the  other  shore  ? 

An  amusing  incident  occurred  to-day.  An  old  farmer  living 
about  a  hundred  rods  from  the  road,  up  a  private  lane,  stood  a 
perfect  picture  of  wonder  and  despair  because  he  could  not 
convince  the  men  that  "  Dare  ish  no  road  up  dis  way !"  The 
Regiment  had  turned  up  this  lane  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
the  fields  to  avoid  the  crowd  in  the  main  road,  and  there  the 
old  fellow,  unacquainted  with  the  necessities  of  war,  stood  ad 
dressing  each  officer  as  he  came  up  and  passed,  with  "  My  Got, 
you  can't  go  dis  way  !"  "  Tare  ish  no  road  dis  way !"  Yet 
on  moved  the  army,  convincing  even  our  Dutch  friend  by  the 
time  the  movement  was  completed,  that  there  was  a  very 
wide  road  that  way. 

At  length,  the  Regiment  went  into  camp  at  Emmettsburg. 
The  next  morning  it  was  moved  about  four  miles  to  a  creek, 
separating  Maryland  from  Pennsylvania.  As  the  Fifty-sixth 
Pennsylvania,  attached  to  our  Brigade,  reached  the  shore  of 
their  native  State,  they  sent  up  cheer  upon  cheer,  showing  their 
appreciation  of  "  Home,  sweet,  sweet  home."  The  army 
was  now  placed  in  line  of  battle,  and  remained  thus  until 
the  next  morning. 

The  Seventy-sixth  was  mustered  for  pay  by  Major  Grover, 
but  it  being  late  in  the  afternoon  before  it  was  com 
pleted,  and  one  company  being  on  picket  duty,  the  certifi 
cates  of  muster  were  not  signed  that  night  by  the  officer. 
Indeed,  they  were  never  signed  by  him,  for  before  another  sun 
had  set,  Major  Grover  with  nearly  one-third  of  the  noble  men 
who  answered  to  their  names  at  this  muster,  were  mustered  into 

that  great  army  from  the  roll-call  of  which  none  will  be  absent. 
**###*.-# 
"  Comrades,  at  roll-call  when  I  shall  be  sought, 
Say  I  fought  till  I  fell,  and  fell  where  I  fought, 
Wounded  and  faint. 


234  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V, 

Oh,  that  last  charge ! 

Eight  through  that  dread  lead-storm  of  shrapnell  and  shell 
Through  without  faltering— clear  through  with  a  yell. 
Right  in  their  midst  in  the  turmoil  and  gloom, 
Like  heroes  they  dashed  at  the  mandate  of  doom ! 

Oh,  that  last  charge ! 
^******** 

They  are  mustered  out ! 
Oh,  God  of  our  fathers,  our  freedom  prolong, 
And  tread  down  rebellion,  oppression  and  wrong ! 
Oh,  land  of  earth's  hope,  on  the  blood-reddened  sod, 
They  died  for  the  Nation,  the  Union,  and  God  ! 

They  are  mustered  out." 


CHAPTER    XX. 

MARCH  TO  GETTYSBURG— THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  GIVEN  THE  POST  or  HONOR— MAJOR  GRO- 
VER'S  ORDER— BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG— DETAILS  AND  INCIDENTS— HALF  THE  SEVEN 
TY-SIXTH  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED  IN  HALF  AN  HOUR— INSTANCES  OF  HEROISM- 
RECRUITING  FROM  THE  "WOUNDED  "  ON  THE  FIELD— THE  "  NAMELESS  HEROINE  "  OF 
GETTYSBURG — THE  AGED  VOLUNTEER  OF  GETTYSBURG — SERGEANT  CLIFF,  OF  COM- 
PANY  F— UNION  VICTORY— OLD  ARCHIE— ANN  REDMOND. 

July  \st,  1863. — The  Union  Army  could  now  be  deemed 
invaders  no  longer,  though  viewed  from  the  stand-point  of  the 
most  violent  secessionist.  It  was  now  upon  the  soil  of  a 
State  that  has  never  been  charged  with  treason  by  her  bitter 
est  foes.  The  enemy,  in  this  second  attempt,  had  invaded  the 
loyal  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were  to  be  driven  from  it,  or 
march  further  into  the  interior  of  the  loyal  North.  The  men 
all  felt  that  they  were  now  called  upon  to  fight,  not  merely 
for  an  abstract  principle,  but  for  their  own  hearth-stones, — not 
only  to  sustain  the  Government,  but  for  their  own  families,  and 
to  preserve  their  homes  from  the  desolations  of  war. 

It  had  rained  through  the  night,  and  the  arms  being  loaded, 
were  in  poor  condition  for  fighting ;  but  the  men  set  briskly 
at  work  putting  them  in  order,  and  soon  the  army  was  moving 
towards  Gettysburg.  The  Seventy-sixth  was  placed  on  the 
right  of  the  Brigade,  which  was  on  the  right  of  the  Division, 
occupying  the  right  of  the  First  Corps.  This  brought  the 
Seventy-sixth  in  the  extreme  front  in  marching,  and  on  the 
extreme  right  in  line  of  battle. 


236  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Our  Regiment,  at  this  time,  belonged  to  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Division,  First  Army  Corps.  The  Brigade  was  com 
posed  of  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York,  Fourteenth  New  York, 
(Brooklyn),  Seventh  Indiana,  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  and 
Ninety-fifth  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Cutler. 

Before  noon  the  Regiment  reached  a  gentle  eminence,  from 
which  a  view  was  had  of  Gettysburg.  A  halt  was  ordered. 
In  front  of  the  Corps  were  gathered  a  group  of  Generals  and 
their  respective  staffs,  all  intently  surveying  with  their  field- 
glasses,  the  valley  and  hills  beyond.  There  stood  Eeynolds, 
the  Corps  Commander,  even  now  surveying  the  ground  where 
in  less  than  six  hours  he  fell  in  front  of  his  Corps.  There  was 
Wadsworth,  the  brave  and  intrepid  leader  of  the  Division ; 
and  Cutler,  the  commandant  of  the  Brigade.  Scouts  were 
momentarily  coming  in  with  their  reports  of  the  position  and 
strength  of  the  enemy.  Then  came  the  rush  of  people  from 
the  town — gray-haired  old  men  tottering  along ;  women  car 
rying  their  children,  and  children  leading  each  other,  while  on 
the  faces  of  all  were  depicted  the  indices  of  the  terror  and 
despair  which  had  taken  possession  of  them. 

At  the  side  of  the  road  opposite  the  Seventy-sixth  was  a 
long  row  of  cherry  trees  loaded  with  ripe  fruit.  The  boys 
looked  and  wished,  yet  hesitated.  Just  at  this  moment, 
Major  Grover  rode  down  from  the  group  of  officers,  and, 
speaking  in  a  tone  audible  to  all,  said : — 

"  Boys,  the  General  charges  you  to  be  very  particular  to 
keep  strictly  within  the  rules,  and  not  meddle  with  those 
cherry  trees  \  Be  sure  you  don't  break  the  trees  down !"  and 
then  turning  his  horse  up  the  road,  he  watched  intently  the 
group  of  officers  beyond.  The  hint  was  understood,  and  the 
cherries  proved  very  palatable,  though  the  trees  did  not  re 
main  quite  uninjured.  The  officers  failed  to  look  around 


MAJOE  GEOVEE'S  OEDEE.  237 

while  the  trees  were  being  plundered.  The  cause  was  fully 
explained  afterwards.  The  owner  of  the  trees  occupied  a 
house  near  the  Generals,  and  by  his  manner  and  conversation 
had  convinced  them  that,  though  living  in  a  free  and  loyal 
State,  he  was  a  secessionist ;  hence  Pope's  foraging  order  was 
applicable  to  his  case.  Before  night  his  house  was  riddled 
with  shot  and  shell,  and  finally  consumed,  and  not  one  in  the 
Union  army  who  understood  his  political  status,  mourned  over 
his  loss. 

The  cherries  were  hardly  disposed  of,  when  the  order, 
"  Forward !"  was  given,  and  off  at  double-quick,  down  the 
hill  toward  the  enemy  rushed  the  veteran  regiments.  The 
Seventy-sixth  New  York  being  in  advance,  was  obliged  to 
remove  fences  as  they  led  the  army  through  fields,  gardens 
and  yards.  It  was  an  hour  of  excitement — this  rushing  into 
the  midst  of  a  large  army  now  plainly  visible  on  the  opposite 
hills. 

On  aproaching,  and  when  within  two  miles  of  the  town, 
General  Cutler  was  ordered  to  move  obliquely  to  the  left 
across  the  fields  to  the  ridge  near  the  Seminary  west  of  the 
town,  where  the  enemy  were  already  engaging  our  cavalry. 
He  moved  across  the  railroad  with  the  Seventy-sixth  and  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers  and  the 
Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  immediately  formed 
in  line  of  battle.  He  soon  found  himself  engaged  with  a 
vastly  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  advancing  in  two  lines,  at 
short  range,  in  front,  and  on  his  right  flank.  The  three  regi 
ments  under  General  Cutler's  command,  in  the  language  of 
his  report,  "  fought  as  only  brave  men  can  fight,  and  held 
"  their  ground  until  ordered  to  fall  back  by  General  Wads- 
"  worth,  to  the  woods  on  the  next  ridge.  The  Seventy-sixth 
"  New  York  and  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  fell  back ;  the  One 
"  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New  York  did  not  receive  the 


238  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  ~N.  Y.  Y. 

"  order,  in  consequence  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Miller  being 
"  wounded  at  the  moment  of  receiving  it.  Major  Harney 
"  held  the  regiment  to  its  position  until  the  enemy  were  in 
"  possession  of  the  railroad-cut  on  his  left,  when  it  was  impos- 
"  sible  for  him  to  retire  until  relieved  by  a  charge  on  the  ene- 
"  my  from  the  left  by  the  Sixth  Wisconsin,  Ninety-fifth  New 
"  York  Volunteers,  and  Fourteenth  Brooklyn,  which  resulted 
"  in  capturing  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  and  enabled  Major 
"  Harney  to  bring  off  the  remainder  of  his  Regiment." 

It  was  near  the  first  of  this  fighting-  that  General  Reynolds 
was  killed,  and  the  command  of  the  corps  devolved  upon 
Major-General  Doubleday.  About  the  same  time  Major 
Grover  was  struck  by  a  ball  and  almost  instantly  killed. 
Major  Grover  was  a  good  disciplinarian,  and  was  missed  in 
the  Regiment.  General  Cutler,  in  his  report  of  the  battle, 
says : — 

"Major  Grover,  commanding  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  a 
brave  and  efficient  officer,  was  killed  early  in  the  action  of  the  first  instant, 
and  the  command  devolved  upon  Captain  John  E.  Cook,  and  most  ably  and 
faithfully  did  he  perform  the  duty." 

About  the  same  time  that  Major  Grover  was  killed,  Lieu 
tenant  Cahill,  of  Company  B,  fell,  wounded  in  the  thigh. 
Captain  Story,  of  Company  B,  fell  mortally  wounded.  Lieu 
tenants  Carter  and  Button,  of  Company  B,  were  wounded, 
and  Sergeant-Major  Thomas  Martin  killed,  the  ball  entering 
his  arm  and  side. 

All  the  Regiments  in  this  advance  Brigade  were  fearfully 
cut  up.  The  Seventy-sixth  went  into  the  fight  with  three 
hundred  and  forty-eight  men  and  twenty-seven  officers,  and  in 
half  an  hour  it  lost  two  officers  killed,  and  sixteen  wounded  ; 
twenty-seven  men  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-four 


BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG.  239 

wounded ;  making  a  total  killed  and  wounded  in  the  half 
hour,  of  eighteen  officers  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  men, 
or  over  half  the  officers,  and  nearly  half  the  men  expended  in 
that  brief  period !  The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
JSTew  York  went  into  the  fight  with  three  hundred  and  eighty 
officers  and  men,  and  within  the  same  time  lost  in  killed  and 
wounded  two  hundred  and  seven.  The  Fifty-sixth  Pennsyl 
vania  went  into  the  battle  with  seventeen  officers  and  two 
hundred  and  thirty-five  men,  and  within  the  same  time  lost  in 
killed  and  wrounded,  six  officers  and  seventy-two  men.  It 
is  very  seldom  that  an  army  suffers  in  the  ratio  above  indi 
cated. 

After  falling  back  to  the  woods,  and  subsequently  further 
back,  General  Cutler  received  orders  to  advance  again,  aud 
occupy  the  crest  of  the  ridge.  Although  reduced  by  a  loss  of 
half  their  numbers,  the  men  bravely  and  cheerfully  moved 
forward  to  renew  the  fight.  On  his  way,  General  Cutler  was 
joined  by  the  Ninety-fifth  New  York,  Fourteenth  Brooklyn, 
and  Sixth  "Wisconsin.  After  occupying  the  old  ground  from 
half  to  three-fourths  of  an  hour,  the  enemy  were  discovered 
putting  a  battery  into  position  on  the  right  flank,  and  moving 
forward  large  bodies  of  infantry  in  the  same  direction.  This 
being  reported  to  General  Wadsworth,  he  directed  General 
Cutler  to  take  such  a  position  as  he  deemed  proper.  Leaving 
the  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  to  assist  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  in  sup 
porting  the  battery,  he,  with  the  balance  of  the  Brigade 
present,  changed  front  to  the  right,  and  endeavored  to  hold 
the  enemy  in  check  as  best  he  could.  He  had  no  support  on 
either  the  right  or  left,  until  about  two  o'clock,  when  a  brig 
ade  from  the  Second  Division  formed  on  the  right,  and  the 
Eleventh  Corps  came  in  on  the  right  of  them.  Soon  after,  a 
column  of  the  enemy  opened  on  the  Second  Division.  Gen 
eral  Cutler  immediately  pushed  his  Brigade  through  the  woods 


240  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

and,  coming  in  on  the  flank,  opened  so  hot  a  fire  upon  them, 
that  one  regiment  threw  clown  their  arms  and  surrendered. 
By  this  time  the  enemy  were  so  close  on  his  left  flank  that  he 
again  changed  front,  and  came  into  line  on  General  Robin 
son's  left,  where  he  remained  until  out  of  ammunition,  and 
was  relieved  by  other  troops.  He  then  fell  back  under  the 
hill  and  sent  for  ammunition. 

The  Eleventh  Corps  had  now  fallen  back  to,  and  were 
moving  into,  the  town,  and  soon  the  enemy  appeared  advanc* 
ing  in  line  of  battle.  After  waiting  about  twenty  minutes, 
General  Cutler  moved  the  Brigade  to  the  railroad  with  a  view 
to  form  under  cover  of  its  bank  and  try  to  hold  him  in  check 
there,  when  he  received  an  order  through  Colonel  Bankhead, 
to  send  three  regiments  to  aid  in  repelling  the  enemy  near  the 
Seminary.  He  immediately  sent  the  Seventy-sixth,  the  Four 
teenth  Brooklyn,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
New  York.  These  regiments  remained  there  until  General 
Cutler  received  orders  to  move  his  Brigade  to  the  rear  in  the 
best  order  he  could.  He  moved  off  on  the  railroad  embank 
ment,  and  although  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire  on  both  flanks, 
the  men  marched  with  perfect  steadiness  and  no  excitement. 
Their  steadiness  had  the  effect  to  bring  the  enemy  to  a  halt, 
when  he  threw  out  skirmishers,  thus  relieving  our  Brigade 
from  the  fire  of  his  main  line  on  the  left.  This  Brigade  thus 
completely  covered  the  troops  who  were  retreating  on  its 
right  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy  on  its  left.  The  Brigade 
suffered  severely  while  retiring.  General  Cutler  had  one 
horse  killed  on  the  railroad,  and  another  wounded  going 
through  the  town.  After  the  death  of  General  Reynolds,  the 
Corps  was  handled  with  courage  and  skill  by  General  Doub- 
leday.  In  the  midst  of  the  fight  he  was  ever-present,  giving 
orders  to  his  men,  and  even,  in  some  cases,  "  sighting  "  the 
artillery.  At  one  time  he  was  nearly  surrounded  by  the 


INSTANCES  OF  HEROISM. 

rebels,  and  only  escaped  by  reason  of  their  ignorance  of  his 
rank. 

Instances  of  heroism  occurred  on  this  sanguinary  field, 
which,  had  they  been  witnessed  in  the  olden  time,  would  have 
linked  the  names  of  the  actors  with  the  worshiped  saints.  In 
the  hottest  of  the  fight,  the  rebels  had  killed  nearly  all  the 
gunners  attached  to  Battery  B,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery,  and 
were  rushing  up  to  take  the  Battery,  when  a  remaining  gun 
ner,  nearly  exhausted  by  his  almost  superhuman  effort  to  save 
his  battery,  raised  his  "  swab,"  and  struck  the  commandant  of 
the  rebel  squad,  breaking  his  neck.  The  brave  gunner  fell, 
however,  pierced  through  the  body  by  rebel  bayonets.  His 
battery  was  taken,  but  recaptured  by  our  troops  later  in  the 
day. 

As  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  was  advancing  to  the  relief  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New  York,  a  fine  appearing 
man  came  deliberately  up  to  Lieut.-Col.  Dawes,  commanding 
the  Eegiment,  and,  taking  the  position  of  a  soldier,  saluted 
the  Colonel.  Supposing  he  had  some  order  to  communicate, 
the  Colonel  turned  toward  him,  when  the  man,  standing  erect, 
exclaimed : — "  Tell  my  friends  at  home  I  died  like  a  man  and 
a  soldier  1"  Then,  tearing  open  his  coat  with  both  hands,  he 
displayed  a  ghastly  wound,  and  fell  dead  ! 

In  another  instance,  the  rebels  had  killed  nearly  all  the 
gunners  in  charge  of  one  piece  of  our  artillery,  and  were 
advancing  to  capture  it.  Observing  their  movement,  one  of 
the  gunners  hastily  attached  the  horses  to  the  gun,  and  was 
just  preparing  to  mount  and  ride  off,  as  the  rebel  Lieutenant 
placed  his  hand  upon  the  piece  and  ordered  him  to  surrender. 
Instead  of  obeying  the  order,  he  put  spurs  to  the  horses  and 
dashed  off.  But,  as  he  started,  the  Lieutenant,  who  had 
reached  the  horses'  side,  presented  a  cocked  pistol  at  the  head 
of  the  gunner.  Determined  to  save  the  gun,  regardless  of  the 
Q 


24:2  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  V. 

danger,  lie  dashed  ahead,  when  the  Lieutenant  fired,  the  ball 
entering  the  body  of  the  gunner ;  he,  however,  managed  to 
stay  upon  his  horse  until  the  gun  was  safe  within  our  lines, 
and  then  fell  to  the  ground  dead ! 

Cases  of  cowardice,  as  well  as  courage,  were  not  wanting. 
As  the  Regiment  was  marching  near  the  railroad,  they  were 
at  one  time  deployed  through  the  lot,  along  the  edge  of  which 
ran  a  stone  wall.  As  they  were  marching  along,  Captain 
Pierce,  of  Company  A,  discovered  a  man  nicely  rolled  up  in 
a  blanket,  lying  behind  the  wall,  his  head  completely  hidden. 
Considering  the  care  with  which  he  was  rolled  in  the  blanket 
a  little  unusual  for  a  dead  man,  Captain  Pierce  proceeded  to 
investigate. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?"  inquired  the  Captain.  "  Get 
up!" 

"  I  can't.     I  am  awfully  wounded,"  replied  the  "  beat." 

"  Where  ?"  inquired  the  Captain; 

"  Here,"  answered  the  coward,  pointing  to  his  side. 

An  examination  discovered  no  wound.  After  changing  the 
locality  of  the  injury  several  times,  and  each  time  failing  to 
discover  blood,  the  Captain  shouted,  "  Get  up,  you  coward ! 
Fall  in  !"  and  Company  A  kept  this  recruit  of  the  battle-field 
in  the  front  rank  the  remainder  of  the  day. 

The  Brigade  was  now  ordered  to  fall  back  through  the  town 
to  Cemetery  Ridge  on  the  south.  The  rebels  followed  closely, 
so  that  at  one  time  the  town  was  occupied  by  portions  of  both 
armies. 

The  people  of  Gettysburg,  like  the  bulk  of  the  peo 
ple  of  the  free  States,  are  heartily  loyal.  At  many  of 
the  doors  and  windows,  the  ladies,  lads  and  girls  stood  through 
that  long,  hot  day,  and  passed  water  and  food  to  the  Union 
troops.  The  men  of  the  Seventy-sixth  will  not  soon  forget, 
and  I  should  fail  in  the  performance  of  my  duty,  did  I  not 


THE  "NAMELESS  HEROINE."  243 

mention  the  "  nameless  heroine,"  who,  with  a  cup  in  each 
hand,  so  busily  dealt  out  water  to  the  thirsty  boys,  the  tears  of 
sympathy  streaming  down  her  lovely  cheeks,  as  the  wounded 
soldiers  came  hobbling  by,  until,  pierced  by  a  rebel  ball,  she 
fell  dead  by  the  side  of  her  pail !  "We  regret  that  we  cannot 
hand  down  her  name  to  posterity,  even  in  these  humble  pages. 
The  memory  of  her  deeds  and  heroic  sacrifice  shall  remain 
green,  though  her  name  is  unknown. 

After  passing  through  the  town  to  Cemetery  Hill,  the  Brig 
ade  was  joined  by  the  Seventh  Indiana,  which  had  come  up. 
By  order  of  General  Wadsworth  the  Seventh  Indiana  was  sent, 
to  hold  the  crest  of  a  hill  to  the  right,  and  the  balance  of  the 
Brigade  having  been  in  action  from  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  to  four 
o'clock  P.  M.,  were  allowed  to  rest  for  the  night. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  battle,  as  the  Regiment  was 
rushing  forward  toward  the  enemy,  a  cannon  ball  passed  be 
tween  the  legs  of  Captain  Robert  Story,  of  Company  B, 
plowing  up  the  earth  beyond,  yet  he  rushed  on  until,  half  an 
hour  later,  he  lay  mortally  wounded,  in  the  enemy's  lines. 
He  was  struck  in  the  left  thigh  by  a  Minnie  ball,  which,  on 
reaching  and  fracturing  the  bone,  divided  into  three  parts. 
He  lingered  until  the  sixth  of  August,  receiving  all  the  atten 
tions  which  kind  hearts  and  skillful  hands  could  give.  No 
man  in  the  Regiment  was  entitled  to  more  praise  than  Cap 
tain  Story. 

To  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  is  due  the  credit  of  firing 
the  first  gun  at  Gettysburg,  except  the  skirmishing  done  by 
the  cavalry.  Next  to  the  Seventy-sixth  was  the  Fifty-sixth 
Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  best  regiments  in  the  service — a  reg 
iment  which  ever  vied  with  the  Seventy-sixth  in  the  laudable 
strife  to  excel  in  achievements. 

As  the  regiments  were  pushing  forward,  before  the  fighting 
commenced,  a  gray-haired  man,  sixty  years  of  age,  rushed 


244:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  BEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

across  the  fields,  gun  in  hand,  and  attempted  to  reach  the 
front ;  but  being  unable  to  overtake  the  Seventy-sixth  New 
York,  he  fell  in  with  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  and  fought 
with  that  Regiment  all  day.  Had  all  the  residents  of  Gettys 
burg  been  equally  patriotic  and  courageous,  the  result  of  the 
first  day's  fighting  might  have  been  more  disheartening  to  the 
South,  and  rendered  the  terrible  fighting  of  the  next  two  days 
unnecessary. 

Early  in  the  first  day's  fighting,  Orderly  Sergeant  Henry 
Cliff,  of  Company  F,  fell  severely  wounded  in  his  left  leg. 
Our  troops  were  retreating,  and  he  was  left  upon  the  field. 
The  sun  was  shooting  down  his  hottest  July  rays.  No  bush 
protected  the  brave  Sergeant. 

"  Please  carry  me  to  the  shade  of  that  tree,"  said  the  Ser 
geant  to  a  rebel,  alluding  to  a  large  tree  that  stood  near  by. 

"  I  shan't  do  it,"  replied  the  rebel ;  "  get  some  of  your 
d — d  Yankee  horde  to  help  you.  If  you  had  been  at  home, 
where  you  belonged,  instead  of  fighting  for  the  d — d  nigger, 
you  would  not  have  needed  help  !"  and  there,  for  five  days 
the  Sergeant  lay  with  a  broken  limb,  unable  to  stir,  almost 
dying  from  thirst  and  hunger,  and  nearly  roasting,  while  day 
after  day  he  watched  the  cool  shade  in  its  slow  journey  around 
the  tree,  never  quite  reaching  him,  but  advancing  toward  him 
and  then  retreating,  as  though  tantalizing  him  for  his  loyalty ! 
He  was  finally  found  by  our  men,  his  limb  amputated,  and  he 
still  lives  to  tell  his  story. 

General  Pleasanton,  commanding  cavalry,  had  become  fa 
miliar  with  the  country  around  Gettysburg,  and  had  advised 
General  Meade  that  this  was  the  proper  place  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  which  every  one  considered  imminent.  General  Meade, 
however,  decided  upon  making  a  stand  at  another  point,  for 
the  purpose  of  receiving  the  attack  of  the  enemy.  He 
accordingly  selected  a  position  on  Pipe  Creek,  the  left  resting 


SECOND  DAY  AT  GETTYSBUKG. 

in  the  neighborhood  of  Middleburg,  and  the  right  at  Man 
chester.  He  was  engaged  in  making  arrangements  for 
occupying  that  position  as  soon  as  the  enemy  should  by  their 
movements  indicate  the  time  for  doing  so,  while  the  First 
Corps  was  fighting  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  above  described. 
In  the  afternoon  of  the  first  of  July,  General  Meade  learned 
that  the  cavalry  under  Buford  had  met  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  at  Gettysburg ;  that  General  Reynolds,  who  had  gone 
to  his  assistance  with  the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps,  had  been 
killed,  and  a  battle  was  then  being  fought.  The  attention  of 
General  Meade  seems  then,  for  the  first  time,  to  have  been 
seriously  directed  to  the  position  of  Gettysburg  for  meeting 
the  enemy.  He  immediately  sent  General  Hancock  to  inspect 
and  report  the  condition  of  our  troops,  and  the  character  of 
the  ground.  That  night  the  troops  were  moved  up  and  took 
position  on  the  hill  south  of  Gettysburg. 

The  troops  now  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  the  shape  of  a 
horse-shoe,  with  the  convexity  toward  the  town.  The  left 
facing  to  the  northwest,  was  occupied  by  the  Fifth  Corps, 
under  General  Sykes,  the  Third  Corps,  under  General  Sickles, 
and  the  Second  Corps,  under  General  Hancock.  The  center 
facing  the  town,  by  the  First  Corps,  under  General  Newton, 
the  right  by  the  Eleventh  Corps  under  General  Howard,  and 
the  Twelfth  Corps,  under  General  Slocum. 

The  fore  part  of  July  second  was  spent  by  the  Union  Gen 
erals  in  disposing  their  troops,  and  arranging  for  the  battle. 
Early  in  the  morning,  the  Second  Brigade  was  moved  to  the 
hill  and  took  a  position  between  the  First  Brigade,  and  Gene 
ral  Green's  Brigade,  of  the  Twelfth  Corps.  "Wasted  as  was 
the  strength  of  the  First  Corps,  by  the  fighting  of  the  day 
before,  it  was  not  expected  that  they  should  bear  the  burthen 
of  what  was  to  follow. 

The  enemy  now  occupied  the  valley  at  the  base  of  Ceme- 


246  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  BEGBIENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

tery  Hill,  and  formed  nearly  parallel  with  our  forces.  Early 
in  the  day  skirmishing  was  commenced  by  the  enemy,  and 
continued  more  or  less  severe  until  four  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  when  suddenly  he  opened  a  most  terrific  fire  upon 
Cemetery  Hill,  held  by  the  Eleventh  Corps,  and  upon  the 
position  held  by  the  Second  Corps.  Our  artillery,  posted  in 
favorable  positions,  replied  vigorously,  and  for  two  hours  the 
roar,  and  flame,  and  smoke  of  artillery,  and  shriek  of  shells 
so  completely  filled  the  air,  that  everything  else  seemed  for 
gotten.  On  the  left  were  soon  observed  dark  masses  of  troops 
emerging  from  the  woods  and  advancing  in  the  direction  of 
the  Third  Corps.  Skirmishing  in  that  part  of  the  field  be 
came  sharper.  General  Sickles  was  sent  forward  to  ascertain 
the  enemy's  intentions.  The  artillery  fire  ceased,  and  with 
yells  and  cheers,  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  flash  of  fixed  bay 
onets,  Longstreet's  and  Hill's  Corps  rushed  against  the  Union 
Army.  The  Third  Corps  fought  manfully,  but  were  finally 
forcedto  give  way  beneath  the  weight  of  the  attacking  column. 
Sickles  fell  severely  wounded,  his  leg  being  blown  off  by  a 
shell,  and  his  Corps  cut  to  pieces.  On  came  the  rebels  with 
more  fury  than  before.  The  Second  and  Fifth  Corps  were 
thrown  into  the  breach.  The  Second  Corps  suffered  terribly. 
The  Fifth  Corps,  including  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  fought 
with  desperate  courage,  and  a  determination  to  leave  the  field 
only  as  conquerors.  A  division  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  was  now 
called  in,  and  about  the  same  time  General  Sedgwick  arrived 
with  the  Sixth  Corps.  They  had  marched  thirty  consecutive 
hours,  their  feet  were  sore,  some  without  shoes,  and  they  felt 
much  more  like  lying  down  in  the  road  than  fighting.  But 
when  the  situation  was  understood,  these  weary  patriots 
seemed  strengthened  by  a  new  inspiration,  and  even  awaited 
with  impatience  the  order  to  advance.  At  length  the  order 
came,  and  like  fresh  troops  this  celebrated  Corps  went  down 


AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  SECOND  DAY.  247 

the  hill  like  an  avalanche  upon  their  almost  victorious  foe. 
The  rebel  column  halted,  staggered,  and  then  fell  back  in  con 
fusion,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  piled  across  each 
other,  and  in  our  hands.  About  the  same  time,  an  equally 
sudden  dash  was  made  by  E well's  Corps  upon  our  right.  The 
suddenness  of  the  attack,  that  portion  of  our  army  having 
been  weakened  by  the  reinforcements  sent  to  Sickles,  gave  the 
enemy  some  advantage.  Reinforcements  were,  however, 
promptly  sent  up,  and  his  advance  checked. 

Stung  by  the  defeat  on  the  left,  which  had  sent  their  col 
umns  back  in  confusion,  the  rebels  were  determined,  at  all 
hazards,  to  carry  the  right,  hence  the  attack  upon  Slocum 
was  furious  almost  to  madness.  The  First  Corps,  which  had 
covered  itself  all  over  with  glory  the  day  before,  and  the  Sixth 
Corps,  which  had  just  turned  the  tide  so  magnificently  on  the 
left,  came  promptly  to  the  support  of  the  Twelfth  Corps. 
From  dark  until  half-past  nine  o'clock,  the  battle  raged  with 
unabated  fury.  The  lines  swayed  to  and  fro,  each  in  turn 
advancing  and  falling  back.  At  this  hour  the  enemy  made 
his  last  desperate  charge  on  the  right  wing  held  by  Geary's 
Division.  He  was  repulsed  with  terrible  slaughter,  and  re 
fused  to  renew  the  attack.  At  ten  o'clock  the  firing  ceased 
and  all  was  quiet  the  remainder  of  the  night. 

Ewell  had  been  reinforced,  and  held  a  position  of  some 
advantage-.  As  a  matter  of  personal  honor,  General  Meade 
assigned  the  task  to  General  Slocum  of  dislodging  Ewell 
from  the  position  lately  held  by  Slocum.  He  accordingly 
made  preparations  for  the  work  assigned  him, 

A  division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  was  posted  on  the  right  of 
the  Twelfth,  thus  forming  the  extreme  outpost  of  the  right 
wing.  The  Fifth  Corps  was  sent  over  as  a  reserve,  and  Gen 
eral  Wadsworth's  Division  of  the  First  Corps  took  position  to 
strengthen  Howard's  right,  where  it  joined  Slocum's  left. 


24:8  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Thus  the  men  lay  down  to  refresh  themselves  with  such  sleep 
as  comes  to  him  who  is  convinced  that  the  morning  will  bring 
him  into  the  midst  of  a  sanguinary  battle.  At  four  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  (July  third)  Slocum's  line  opened  a  terrific 
fire  on  Ewell's  forces.  This  was  responded  to  by  one  of  those 
furious  charges  for  which  the  rebels  were  so  justly  celebrated. 
The  charge  upon  the  left  the  day  before,  where,  with  such 
desperation  the  rebels  fought  our  forces  for  three  hours,  and 
the  charge  of  Ewell  upon  the  right  the  night  before,  were  re 
garded  by  the  oldest  officers  in  the  army  as  the  most  obstinate 
and  deadly  contests  of  the  war.  But  this  charge  of  the  ene 
my  in  response  to  Slocum's  opening  fire  was  far  more  furious. 
With  unearthly  yells  and  utter  contempt  of  danger  and  death, 
for  six  hours  they  hurled  their  solid  columns  against  the  Union 
Army.  During  all  this  time  the  Federal  troops,  firm  as  the 
rocky  foundation  on  which  they  stood,  hurled  the  fiery  shot, 
and  shell,  and  flame  into  the  thinning  ranks  of  the  enemy, 
until  he  staggered  and  fell  back  entirely  defeated  and  ex 
hausted. 

Enemy  though  we  are  to  any  man  or  set  of  men  who  can  lift 
their  parricidal  hand  against  this  best  of  Governments,  we 
can  but  admire  the  courage  and  determination  displayed  by 
the  rebels  in  this  battle.  Nothing  else  during  the  war  equaled 
this  six  hours  of  carnage.  In  front  of  General  Geary's  Di 
vision  were  more  rebel  dead  than  the  entire  number  of  casu 
alties  in  the  Twelfth  Corps. 

At  ten  o'clock  General  Slocum  had  defeated  and  driven  the 
rebels  and  occupied  his  original  position. 

At  two  o'clock  General  Lee  opened  a  terrific  fire  in  front, 
upon  the  First  and  Second  Corps,  from  a  hundred  guns.  Our 
batteries  promptly  responded,  and  for  two  hours  a  battle  with 
artillery  was  fought  such  as  has  never  before  been  heard  upon 
this  continent.  It  was  fitting  that  the  decisive  battle  of  Get- 


LAST  DAY  AT  GETTYSBUKG.  249 

tysburg  should  have  such  a  magnificent  termination.  The 
Union  troops  were  stationed  upon  a  hill.  Much  of  the  sur 
face  was  covered  with  rocks  and  natural  depressions,  so  that 
our  men  were  in  great  part  protected.  The  rebel  infantry 
was  formed  on  the  plain  below,  and  being  unprotected,  suf 
fered  severely.  Their  artillery  was  posted  on  the  north  of 
Gettysburg.  The  shot  and  shells  of  both  armies,  during  this 
heavy  artillery  duel,  all  passed  over  the  city.  There  our 
wounded  lay  all  day  listening  in  their  pain,  to  the  shrieking 
of  the  shells  from  both  armies  as  they  passed  over  them.  Fre 
quently  two  meeting  in  the  air,  or  one  falling  short,  would 
drop  into  the  city  and  there  explode.  In  one  of  these  instances 
a  sergeant  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  who  had  been  wounded  the 
day  before  and  was  in  the  hospital,  was  struck  by  the  frag 
ments  of  a  shell,  and  lost  an  arm  and  a  leg. 

General  Howard's  headquarters  were  in  the  Cemetery,  and 
were  raked  in  a  terrible  manner. 

At  four  o'clock,  solid  columns  of  rebel  infantry  were  again 
seen  moving  in  the  woods  in  front  of  the  center,  held  by  the 
First  and  Second  Corps.  During  the  cannonading  the  officers 
and  men  had  been  ordered  to  protect  themselves  behind  the 
rocks  and  natural  fortifications ;  but,  on  seeing  the  movement 
in  the  woods,  several  officers  went  to  General  Doubleday,  and 
volunteered  to  carry  messages  to  General  Meade  asking  that 
the  center  be  strengthened.  General  Doubleday  replied  that 
they  might  trust  to  General  Meade  ;  that  he  undoubtedly  un 
derstood  the  condition  of  affairs.  On  came  the  column  over 
the  fields,  but  not  with  the  fury  which  marked  the  assault  the 
night  before.  The  head  of  the  column  was  directed  toward 
the  position  held  by  General  Webb,  commanding  a  Brigade  in 
the  Second  Corps.  This  Brigade  opened  a  steady  fire  upon 
the  enemy,  and  the  rebel  General  Armistead,  who  led  the 
charge,  halted  at  a  fence  to  steady  his  column.  General 


250  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

Webb,  seeing  this,  shouted,  "  Charge !'  the  enemy  is  ours !" 
The  charge  was  made,  and  the  Second  Corps  closing  upon  the 
right,  and  the  First  Corps  on  the  left,  General  Armistead  and 
thirty-five  hundred  men  were  captured.  The  remaining  rebels 
were  driven  back  over  the  fields  with  great  slaughter,  and  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg  was  ended.  ~No  more  desperate  battle 
was  fought  during  the  war.  Each  army  seemed  to  consider 
this  the  "Waterloo  of  the  rebellion,  and  fought  accordingly. 
The  result  was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  Union  Arms. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  fight,  "  Old  Archy,"  of  whom 
we  have  before  spoken,  left  the  army  and  did  not  again  appear 
until  after  the  battle,  when  he  approached  Captain  By  ram, 
whose  baggage  he  had  carried,  with, — 

"  Cap'n,  I  toted  your  baggage  to  de  rear,  for  fear  dem  rebs 
would  capture  it."  Of  course  Archy  had  no  eye  upon  his 
personal  safety. 

In  this  battle  the  Seventy-sixth  and  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-seventh  New  York  took  very  nearly  the  same  part, 
except  the  first  day,  and  both  suffered  severely,  many  of  their 
best  officers  being  either  killed,  or  wounded  and  taken  pris 
oners. 

"  Have  you  heard  from  the  battle  ?"  anxiously  inquired 
Ann  Redmond,  of  the  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  on  the  second 
day  of  the  fight.  Ann  had  accompanied  the  train,  and  was 
now  thirty  miles  from  Gettysburg. 

"  I  have  not,"  replied  the  Sergeant,  "  except  that  it  has 
been  a  severe  fight." 

"  Then  I  must  go  and  see  for  myself,"  said  Ann.  "  Oh, 
dear !  what  will  I  and  our  children  do  if  Tommy  is  killed  ?" 
and  away  went  Ann  Redmond  thirty  miles  on  foot,  to  learn 
the  fate  of  her  husband — devotion  worthy  of  imitation. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


VICTORY  AT  GETTYSBURG  ANSWERED  BY  VICTORY  AT  VICKSBURG— AN  ADVANCE  OR 
DERED—CROSSING  SOUTH  .MOUNTAIN— WATCHING  THE  ENEMY  TO  SEE  HIM  SAFELY 
ACROSS  THE  POTOMAC— FOLLOWING  THE  REBEL  ARMY— GUARDING  REBEL  PROPERTY 
—GENERAL  WADSWORTH  TAKES  A  TEMPORARY  LEAVE— REMINISCENCES— PICKET  DUTY 
ON  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK— NIGHT  EXPERIENCE  IN  CAMP— MARCH  TO  CULPEPPER— THE 
PAYMASTER  COMES— FLAG  PRESENTATION  IN  THE  SECOND  CORPS— DRUNKEN  SCENE- 
LARGE  PROFIT  ON  WHISKY— EXECUTION  OP  WINSLOW  N.  ALLEN,  OF  COMPANY  H,  FOB 
DESERTION. 


VICTOEY  now  perched  upon  our  banners !  Heretofore, 
whenever  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  met  the  rebel  army, 
except  at  South  Mountain  and  Antietam,  the  contest  had 
failed  of  good  results  to  the  Union  cause.  Now  the  battle 
had  been  fairly  won — won  at  an  immense  cost  of  life  and 
limb.  As  the  result  was  made  known  to  the  anxious  North, 
it  was  closely  followed  by  the  cheering  news  that  General 
Grant,  who  had  long  been  beseiging  Yicksburg,  had  finally 
compelled  its  unconditional  surrender,  and  our  troops  had 
held  their  Fourth  of  July  celebration  within  that  almost  im 
pregnable  position.  Even  the  enemies  of  "  forcible  coercion  " 
could  scarcely  refrain  from  smiling  at  such  a  combination  of 
grand  successes.  On  the  fourth  of  July,  the  rebel  movements 
indicated  a  retreat  from  Gettysburg.  General  Gregg,  twenty- 
two  miles  from  that  place,  on  the  road  to  Chambersburg,  re 
ported  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning :  "  The  road  is  strewn 
with  wounded  and  stragglers,  ambulances  and  caissons,  and 


252  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

there  is  great  demoralization  and  confusion."  This  was  re 
ported  to  General  Meade,  but  no  advance  was  ordered.  A 
meeting  of  the  corps  commanders  was  held  on  the  evening  of 
the  fourth,  at  which  General  Meade  requested  the  opinion  of 
every  corps  commander,  as  to  the  expediency  of  an  advance. 
The  first  question  put  to  them  was  : — 
"  Shall  this  army  remain  here  ?" 

Those  answering  in  the  affirmative  were  Generals  Birney, 
Sedgwick,  Sykes,  Hays  and  Warren.  In  the  negative,  Gene 
rals  Newton,  Pleasanton  and  Slocum.  Doubtful,  General 
Howard ;  and  so  the  advance  movement  was  delayed  for  the 
present.  Had  the  question  been  submitted  to  the  officers  of 
lower  grade,  even  to  the  Major-Generals  commanding  divisions, 
where  men  of  such  character  as  Doubleday  and  Wadsworth 
could  have  been  heard,  the  result  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  different.  For  the  patriotic  determination  to  crush  this 
rebellion,  instead  of  dallying  with  it,  seemed  to  increase  as 
you  go  downward  in  the  scale  of  promotions. 

Two  such  armies  could  not  remain  long  in  ignorance  of 
each  other's  intentions.  Our  cavalry  was  continually  recon- 
noitering  the  enemy's  positions ;  the  loyal  people  aided  by 
sending  in  such  information  as  they  possessed,  so  that  during 
the  fifth  of  July  General  Meade  ordered  the  Sixth  Corps  to 
advance,  and  on  the  sixth  and  seventh  the  remainder  of  the 
army  started  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  Learning  that  the 
mountain  passes  through  which  the  rebels  had  retreated  were 
strongly  fortified,  General  Meade  determined  to  march  back 
to  Frederick,  and  thence  over  the  mountain,  where  our  army 
had  so  signally  defeated  the  rebels  the  year  before. 

July  eighth,  headquarters  were  at  Middletown,  and  the 
whole  army  was  concentrated  in  and  about  that  place  and 
South  Mountain.  Many  of  the  weary  soldiers  now  gazed 
upon  that  mountain,  sacred  to  the  memory  of  "  Charley 


MARCH  FEOM  GETTYSBURG.  253 

Stamp,"  and  his  noble  hero  brothers  who  so  bravely  fell  on  its 
summit  less  than  ten  months  before,  and  discussed  the  proba 
bilities  of  a  renewal  of  those  trying  scenes.  Such  a  reflection 
is  not  the  sweetest,  even  to  the  patriot. 

July  ninth  the  troops  crossed  South  Mountain,  and  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  encamped  on  the  west  side.  At  night  the  men 
slept  with  their  accoutrements  on,  ready  at  a  moment's  warn 
ing,  to  meet  the  enemy.  But  the  enemy  was  too  busily 
engaged  in  seeking  the  means  of  escape,  to  make  any  attacks. 
The  next  day  marched  to  near  Funkstown,  where  the  First 
Corps  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  to  prevent  the  crossing 
of  the  Potomac  by  the  rebels.  Orders  had,  however,  been 
given  to  bring  on  no  general  engagement,  and  there  was  no 
firing. 

Instead  of  attacking  and  destroying  the  defeated  and  de 
moralized  army  of  Lee,  General  Meade  simply  watched  his 
crossing,  keeping  a  respectful  distance  in  his  rear,  and  just 
near  enough  to  prevent  his  comfortable  stay  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river. 

The  thirteenth  of  July  was  spent  in  reconnoitering  the 
enemy's  position,  and  General  Meade  says  he  intended  to 
attack  Lee  on  the  fourteenth;  but  during  the  night  of  the 
thirteenth  the  enemy  crossed  the  Potomac  in  safety,  and  Gen 
eral  Meade,  on  advancing  the  next  morning,  found  the  ground 
evacuated,  and  ready  for  his  peaceable  occupation  !  Thus 
ended  the  second  Maryland  campaign,  under  Meade,  an  exact 
repetition  of  the  first,  under  McClellan.  In  both  cases,  a 
defeated  army  was  permitted  to  escape  through  a  friendly 
country,  across  the  Potomac,  into  the  hot-bed  of  secession. 

Our  troops  now  took  the  same  route  as  on  the  former  occa 
sion,  crossing  the  Potomac  at  Berlin.  As  on  the  former 
occasion,  during  the  march  to  Berlin,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents ; 
the  roads  were  almost  impassable ;  the  men  had  received  no 


254:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

clothing  since  leaving  the  camp  in  Virginia ;  hundreds  of 
miles  had  been  traveled,  and  many  of  the  men  were  barefoot, 
ragged  and  dirty,  and  altogether  the  army  presented  a  sorry- 
looking  appearance.  But  the  river  must  be  crossed,  and  the 
march  resumed,  and  veterans  of  so  many  battle-fields  are  not 
the  men  to  quarrel  with  fate,  or  question  orders. 

The  Eegiment  arrived  at  Middleburg  July  twentieth,  hav 
ing  marched  twenty  miles  that  day. 

A  marked  difference  was  observed  between  the  loyalty  of 
Maryland  and  disloyalty  of  Virginia.  Flags  were  no  longer 
seen  floating  from  the  houses.  No  "  Union  rag  "  would  be 
possessed  by  such  a  people,  and  discretion  forbade  the  display 
of  any  other  at  this  particular  period.  The  old  traitors  and 
young  traitoresses  all  frowned  alike  bitterly  upon  our  men. 
Yet,  even  the  bitterest  secessionist  was  ready  to  call  for  a 
guard  to  compel  our  troops  to  "  respect  private  property." 
One  bloated  old  secessionist,  puffed  up  with  that  self-conceit 
which  is  indigenous  to  the  very  soil  of  "  the  mother  of  Presi 
dents,"  was  the  owner  of  a  well.  The  thirsty  troops  took  the 
liberty,  in  passing,  to  fill  their  canteens,  seeing  which,  the 
burly  old  rebel  sprang  to  his  well,  took  off  the  pump  handle 
and  carried  it  into  the  house,  then,  with  characteristic  impu 
dence,  went  to  the  commanding  general  and  asked  for  and 
procured  a  guard  to  protect  his  property  from  destruction ! 
No  wonder  that  narrow-minded  treason  was  not  rendered 
odious  to  itself  by  such  acts  of  generalship  ! 

Here  General  "Wadsworth  took  his  leave,  for  a  time,  of  the 
First  Division.  No  better  or  more  patriotic  man  ever  shoul 
dered  a  musket  or  carried  a  sword.  On  leaving  he  shook  the 
hand  of  each  officer  and  man  in  the  Seventy-sixth,  as  though 
they  were  his  brothers.  There  was  a  time  when  a  Major-Gen 
eral  could  scarcely  have  found  time  to  shake  the  hands  of  the 
thousand  men  who  composed  the  Regiment.  Now  it  was  an 


GENERAL  WADS  WORTH  LEAVES  TEMPORARILY.        255 

easier  matter ;  for,  although  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  had 
been  put  into  the  Regiment  just  before  marching  for  Gettys 
burg,  the  whole  number  of  officers  and  men  now  present  did 
not  exceed  eighty.  General  Wadsworth  stated  to  the  officers 
on  leaving,  that  he  had  endeavored  to  get  the  Seventy-sixth 
sent  on  detached  duty,  to  enable  them  to  recruit,  "  Having 
failed  in  this,"  said  the  General,  "  I  cannot  bear  to  see  the 
small  remnant  of  the  brave  old  Regiment  put  up  to  be  shot 
at  any  more !" 

A  story  is  told  showing  the  kindness  of  heart  possessed  by 
General  Wadsworth.  Just  previous  to  the  march  upon 
Chancellorsville,  an  order  was  issued  that  no  teams  should  be 
employed,  but  instead  thereof,  pack-mules  were  to  be  used. 
The  order  also  required  each  man  to  carry  ten  days'  rations, 
(thirty  pounds,)  one  hundred  rounds  of  cartridges,  (twelve 
pounds,)  extra  shoes,  overcoat,  blanket,  poncha  tent,  canteen 
and  clothing,  (forty-five  pounds,)  musket,  (eight  pounds,)  in 
all  about  ninety-five  pounds  !  On  receiving  the  order  Gene 
ral  Wadsworth  called  his  orderly  : — 

"Orderly!"  said  the  General,  "pack  a  knapsack,  canteen, 
haversack  and  cartridge-box,  and  roll  the  tent  and  overcoat, 
and  place  them  upon  the  knapsack,  according  to  orders,  and 
put  the  whole  rig  on  me,  and  hand  me  a  gun.  I  am  going  to 
see  if  this  order  can  be  obeyed  by  the  men ;"  and  for  nearly 
an  hour,  the  General  paced  his  tent  carrying  the  load  of  a  sol 
dier.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  perspiring  at  every  pore, 
he  commenced  unloading,  declaring,  as  he  did  so,  "  No  man 
can  carry  such  a  load  and  live ;  it  is  preposterous  !"  He  was 
obliged  to  promulgate  the  order,  but  to  the  General's  credit 
be  it  said,  no  inspector  came  around  to  see  that  the  order  was 
obeyed,  and  the  men  did  not  carry  ninety-five  pounds  each  to 
Chancellorsville. 

July  %2d. — Having  rested  a  whole  day,   the  Regiment 


256  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K  Y.  Y. 

moved  down  to  "White  Plains,  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  The 
next  day  at  sunrise  the  march  was  continued  until  in  the 
afternoon,  after  a  march  of  twenty  miles,  the  Regiment 
reached  "Warrenton.  Here  a  rest  was  given  until  the  first  day 
of  August.  The  enemy  moving  down  the  west  side  of  the 
mountains,  had  as  yet  given  no  evidence  of  their  intention, 
and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  simply  watching  their 
movements. 

August  ~Lst. — The  Seventy-sixth  wras  ordered  to  advance  to 
Beverly  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock,  near  the  place  where  it 
was  first  under  fire  in  August,  1862.  Captain  Byram,  of 
Company  D,  was  now  in  command  of  the  Regiment. 

September  Vbih. — About  two  hundred  and  fifty  conscripts 
were,  at  this  date,  added  to  the  Seventy-sixth.  The  Regi 
ment  was  now,  and  for  a  month  had  been,  engaged  in  doing 
picket  duty  along  the  Rappahannock,  one  half  relieving  the 
other  each  consecutive  day,  watching  and  waiting  for  the 
enemy,  who  seemed  anything  but  anxious  to  renew  the  ac 
quaintance. 

Captain  Swan  had  been  home  on  a  furlough,  to  enable  him 
to  recover  from  his  Gettysburg  wound.  He  returned  in  the 
evening  of  September  thirteenth.  Being  tired,  he  retired  to 
his  bunk,  made  by  driving  down  four  crotched  stakes,  and 
laying  two  poles  in  the  crotches,  and  numbers  of  smaller 
sticks  across  them.  He  was  scarcely  asleep,  dreaming  of  the 
pleasant  home  so  lately  left,  when  his  somnambulic  entertain 
ment  was  unceremoniously  intruded  upon.  On  waking  he 
found  himself  lying  in  the  mud,  while  the  rain  was  pouring  in 
torrents  upon  him.  A  tremendous  shower  coming  up  in  the 
night,  had  softened  the  ground,  when  the  stakes  gave  away, 
and,  aided  by  a  strong  wind,  the  Captain  was  launched  out 
side  his  tent.  On  becoming  conscious  of  his  situation,  he 
crawled  back  into  the  tent,  passing  the  remainder  of  the  night 
on  the  wet  earth, 


FLAG  PRESENT ATION.  257 

September  \§th. — At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  orders 
were  received  to  march  in  one  hour.  To  young  soldiers  this 
would  have  seemed  something  of  a  hardship  ;  but  down  came 
the  tents,  and  before  daylight  the  Regiment  was  on  its  way  to 
Culpepper.  After  a  march  of  twelve  miles  a  halt  was  ordered 
and  the  men  went  into  camp.  Here  the  paymaster's  welcome 
face  and  seductive  greenbacks  made  their  appearance,  and  the 
men  were  happy  again. 

The  next  day  a  flag  presentation  took  place  in  the  Second 
Brigade,  where  a  most  disgraceful  scene  transpired.  Whisky 
everywhere,  and  under  all  circumstances,  is  a  "  thing  of  evil." 
It  leaves  its  slimy  track  through  every  lane  of  life,  and  hisses 
its  seductive  falsehoods  in  the  ears  of  every  neighborhood ; 
but  never  does  it  rise  to  the  full  display  of  its  sickening  diabo 
lism,  until  it  circulates  unrestrained  in  the  army.  The 
paymaster  had  been  around,  and  somehow  the  sutler  had  man 
aged,  under  pretense  of  celebrating  the  flag  presentation,  to 
obtain  a  permit  to  sell  a  certain  amount  of  whisky.  When 
once  a  permit  of  that  kind  is  given,  it  amounts  practically  to 
an  unlimited  license.  The  result  was,  that  there  was  scarcely 
a  sober  man  in  the  Second  Brigade.  Nor  was  the  poison  con 
fined  to  that  camp.  Money  will  ever  command  the  services 
of  King  Alcohol,  if  he  is  within  commanding  distance.  The 
First  Brigade,  therefore,  felt  the  influence  of  this  drunken 
spree.  The  veterans  had  become  accustomed  to  sober  life ; 
but  the  conscripts  lately  from  home,  had  become  thirsty,  and 
many  humorous  as  well  as  painful  scenes  were  witnessed: 

In  one  tent  were  three  conscripts  with  more  money  than 
had  commonly  fallen  to  their  lot,  and  more  raging  thirst  than 
had  ever  been  experienced  before. 

"  Say,  boys  let's  have  some  liquor,"  said  one. 

"  How  shall  we  get  it  ?"  was  the  awkward  response. 

Just  then,  Jim ,  of  Company  H,  came  in, 


258  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  E".  Y.  Y. 

"  Say,  veteran,  can't  you  get  us  some  liquor  ?"  inquired  the 
conscript. 

"  Well,  I  guess  so,"  said  Jim. 

"  How  much  do  you  want  for  a  bottle  ?"  said  conscript, 
showing  the  money,  his  eye  brightening  at  the  thought. 

"  Well,  about  three  dollars,  I  guess,"  replied  Jim. 

The  money  advanced,  Jim,  after  a  few  moments,  returned 
with  the  coveted  bottle.  He  knew  that  the  three  dollars 
bought  two  bottles,  one  of  which  lay  back  for  speculation. 

"  Hurrah  for  the  veteran !"  shouted  the  three  conscripts,  as 
they  drank  the  contents  of  the  bottle.  One  bottle  for  three 
empty  conscripts  was  a  small  ration. 

"  Say,  vet.,  can't  you  get  us  some  more  whisky  ?"  inquired 
the  anxious  conscripts. 

"  No  more  at  that  price,"  said  Jim  ;  "  I  can  get  another 
bottle  for  four  dollars." 

"  Here  is  your  money ;  hurry !" 

Jim  went  to  his  tent,  poured  half  the  contents  of  the 
other  bottle  into  this,  filled  up  with  water,  and  returned. 

"  Bully  for  the  veteran  !"  shouted  the  conscripts,  and  the 
contents  of  this  bottle  followed  their  late  neighbor. 

"  Say,  old  feller,  can't  you  get  us  another  bottle  ?"  said  the 
now  slightly  intoxicated  conscripts. 

"  Not  for  that  price,"  said  Jim.  "  Whisky  is  getting  scarce 
— can't  get  it  short  of  five  dollars." 

"  Well,  five  dollars  it  is,  then ;  here,  hurry  up  !"  and  one 
of  them  passed  over  a  five  dollar  greenback. 

Jim  repeated  the  last  operation,  and  they  received  the  last 
bottle  of  whisky  purified  with  water. 

The  two  bottles  of  whisky,  though  weakened  with  one  of 
water,  had, *bv^ this  time,  very  much  affected  the  discretion  of 
the  conscripts,  and  as  their  judgments  failed,  their  appetites 
became  sharpened. 


DRUNKENNESS.  259 

"  Say,  veteran,  can't  you  get  us  some  more  whisky — we 
must  have  it — name  your  price !"  shouted  the  three  con 
scripts  in  concert. 

"  I  can  get  you  just  two  bottles  more,  and  that's  .all,"  said 
Jim.  "  You  must  give  me  ten  dollars." 

"  Here's  your  (hie)  money." 

Jim  went  to  his  tent,  filled  the  two  bottles  with  water, 
and  returned  them  to  the  conscripts,  who  were,  by  this  time, 
very  oblivious. 

"  Hurrah  (hie)  for  the  (hie)  ve'eran  !"  shouted  the  three,  in 
drunken  chorus.  "  Say,  (hie)  this  tastes  (hie)  ratherm  ild ! 
Wha'  d'you  think  ?  I  guess  (hie)  I'm  getting  cl'yed  !" 

Jim  having  become  satisfied  with  his  speculation,  left  with 
his  nineteen  dollars  profit.  There  was  grumbling  among  the 
conscripts  the  next  morning ;  but  Jim  could  not  be  recog 
nized,  and  his  sale  of  water  was  never  punished. 

During  the  same  whisky  rule,  Captain  E.  J.  Swan  was 
walking  through  camp,  when  he  was  accosted  with : — 

"  I  say  (hie)  Cap'n,  I'm  (hie)  awful  sick !" 

"  What's  the  matter,  my  man  ?" 

"O-u-g-h  (hie)  don'no.  O-u-g-h-oo — do  git,  o-o,  doc'or, 
Cap'n." 

"  Is  there  no  one  in  your  tent  to  help  you  ?" 

"  Y-e-s !  o-o-g-h,  Bill's  there." 

"  Why  don't  you  have  him  go  for  the  doctor,  then  ?" 

"  'Cause,  o-o-o-u-g-h — he's  (hie)  he's — drunk,  too,  Cap'n  !" 

The  Captain  did  not  send  for  the  doctor. 

Drunkenness  became  general  for  the  time,  and  Governor 
Curtin,  the  hero  of  the  occasion,  saw  little  in  this  advent  to 
the  army,  to  inspire  him  with  confidence  in  the  temperate 
habits  of  Liberty's  defenders.  To  the  honor  of  the  army  be 
it  said,  however,  that  this  development  of  their  worse  than 
beastly  natures,  was  exceptional,  and  not  a  common  occurrence. 


260  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  E".  Y.  Y. 


September  21s£.  —  Another  addition  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  was  made  to  the  Seventy-sixth  at  this  date.  The  Regi 
ment  now  began  to  bear  the  proportions  of  the  olden  time. 
The  veterans  began  to  appreciate  their  importance  as  veterans, 
and  many  a  sly  joke  was  perpetrated  at  the  expense  of  the 
recruits.  How  strange  to  these  educated  soldiers  of  two  years' 
experience  seemed  the  lengthy  strides,  the  awkward  gestures, 
and  the  loose  civilian  style  of  the  raw  recruits  !  How  their 
arms  dangled  from  their  ill-fitting  coats  !  How  they  grum 
bled  at  sleeping  on.  the  ground,  and  wondered  that  the 
Government  should  feed  them  on  hard  tack  and  salt  pork. 
For  all  the  world  as  the  veterans  talked  less  than  two  years 
before,  and  yet  how  strange  it  seemed  to  them  after  the  lapse 
of  that  time. 

September  %kth.  —  Orders  were  received  to  march  in  half  an 
hour.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  Regiment  had  struck  tents 
and  were  on  the  march  to  the  Rapidan.  After  going  about 
six  miles  they  went  into  camp  near  Raccoon  Ford.  Here, 
late  at  night  on  the  twenty-seventh,  another  hundred  men 
joined  the  Regiment.  They  were  mostly  substitutes  and  con 
scripts.  Among  the  number  was  Winslow  N.  Allen,  formerly 
a  private  in  Company  H,  who  had  deserted  while  the  Regi 
ment  was  stationed  at  Washington,  in  the  spring  of  1862. 
Eight  of  these  new  men  were  assigned  to  Company  H,  and, 
strange  as  it  may  appear,  Allen  was  assigned  to  the  same 
Company  from  which  he  had  deserted.  After  deserting,  he 
had  lived  under  an  assumed  name,  (William  Newton,)  in  Jef 
ferson  county,  New  York,  his  residence  when  he  enlisted  being 
in  Madison  county.  He  was  possessed  of  a  beautiful  wife  and 
one  child,  but,  tempted  by  the  bounty  of  three  hundred 
dollars,  he  had  sold  himself  as  a  substitute,  trusting  to  fortune 
to  make  his  escape  again.  As  he  was  marched  by  the  ser 
geant  down  the  company  street,  though  dark,  his  voice  was 


WINSLOW  N.  ALLEN.  261 

recognized  by  Ins  former  comrades.  This  coming  to  the  ears 
of  the  officers,  he  was  arrested  and  placed  in  confinement  to 
await  his  trial  for  desertion.  lie  was  soon  after  tried,  con 
victed,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot  to  death  on  the  eighteenth  of 
December,  1863. 

So  many  had  been  arrested  and  either  returned  to  duty  or 
punished  by  imprisonment  and  loss  of  pay,  that  he  could  not 
believe  he  would  be  sentenced  to  death.  Others  who  had 
been  sentenced  to  be  shot  had  been  pardoned,  so  that  after  the 
decision  became  known  to  him  he  still  indulged  in  hope.  As 
the  hour  drew  near,  however,  Captain  Swan,  as  kindly  as  pos 
sible,  assured  him  that  all  hope  was  vain,  and  that  he  should 
prepare  for  his  awful  doom.  A  day  or  two  before  his  death 
he  began  to  realize  his  situation,  and  to  set  about  making 
preparations  to  enter 

"  The  undiscovered  country,  from  whose  bourne  no  traveler  returns." 

He  seemed  calm  and  collected,  and  declared  himself  ready 
to  die,  if  such  must  be  his  fate.  So  self-possessed  was  he,  that 
an  hour  before  his  execution  he  sat  at  the  table  with  his  Cap 
tain,  and  ate  a  hearty  dinner,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
writing.  As  the  drum  beat  the  signal  to  march  to  the  place 
of  execution,  he  said : — 

"  Captain,  you  have  been  kind  to  me,  which  I  can  only 
return  by  my  prayers  for  your  welfare."  Handing  the  Cap 
tain  his  pocket-book,  "  Take  this,  it  is  all  I  have,  and  when  I 
am  gone,  please  lay  this,"  (a  fervent  prayer  for  one  in  his  sit 
uation,  printed  on  a  card),  "  on  my  breast." 

The  Captain  promised  to  do  as  requested.  As  they  marched 
to  the  mournful  measure  of  the  death  march,  and  n eared  the 
fatal  spot  where  the  rough  coffin  and  gaping  grave  were  wait 
ing  to  receive  their  victim,  he  seemed  suddenly  struck  with  ter 
ror,  and,  seizing  the  Captain's  hand  with  a  vice-like  grasp,  thus 
remained  until  they  arrived  at  the  coffin.  Around  him  were 


262  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N".  Y.  Y. 

formed  his  companions  whom  he  had  deserted.  The  grave 
which  was  to  receive  him  as  a  loathsome  criminal,  was  fresh 
beside  him.  It  was  a  severe  test  of  his  physical  courage.  To 
none  but  the  Captain  was  there  the  exhibition  of  the  least 
emotion. 

The  condemned  man  was  placed  upon  the  foot  of  his  coffin ; 
the  bandage  placed  over  his  eyes ;  his  hands  pinioned.  The 
charges,  specifications,  findings  and  order  for  his  execution 
had  been  read.  The  Captain  bent  over  him,  and,  his  heart 
almost  too  full  for  utterance,  whispered  :— 

"  Winslow,  I  can  go  no  further  with  you  ;  the  rest  of  your 
dark  journey  is  alone.  Have  you  any  last  word  for  your  wife 
and  child?" 

"  No,  only  tell  them  I  love  them  all !"  These  were  his 
last  words.  The  Captain  stepped  back  a  few  feet ;  the  officer 
gave  the  signal  to  the  executioners ;  the  report  as  of  a  single 
gun  rang  out,  and  Winslow  N.. Allen  fell  lifeless  upon  his 
coffin. 

He  had,  on  that  day  completed  his  twenty-sixth  year.  He 
died  without  a  perceptible  movement  of  a  muscle. 

This  was  the  only  execution  that  ever  occurred  in  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  Regiment. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KECKTJITED  TO  ONE  THOUSAND  MEN—  BUILDING  WINTER  QUAR 
TERS—  MARCH  AND  LBAVE  THEM—  NIGHT  MARCH—  ON  THE  RETREAT—  MARCHING  THIRTY 
MILES  IN  EIGHTEEN  HOURS—  VISIT  TO  THE  BATTLE-FIELDS  OF  GAINESVILLE  AND 
BULL  RUN—  SICKENING  SIGHTS—  RETREATING  AND  ADVANCING—  WADING  BROAD  RUN 
—AN  IMPORTANT  CAPTURE—  JOHN  MINER  BOTTS,  THE  LOYALIST—  DARK  AND  DANGER 
OUS  NIGHT  MARCH—  BATTLE  or  MINE  RUN—  BUILDING  WINTER  QUARTERS  AGAIN— 
ANOTHER  MARCH—  WINTER  QUARTERS  IN  EARNEST. 


September  2±tk.  —  The  idea  had  become  prevalent  that  the 
army  would  go  into  camp  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rapidan. 
The  men  had  accordingly  erected  a  city  of  log  houses,  and 
everything  began  to  resemble  camp  life.  At  this  date,  how 
ever,  the  order  came  about  twelve  o'clock  to  march,  and  at 
once  these  houses  were  abandoned,  and  by  daylight  were  left 
about  eight  miles  in  the  rear.  Here  again  the  Regiment  went 
into  camp,  and  remained  until  October  eleventh.  The  time 
was  all  occupied  in  drilling  the  recruits,  who  had  already 
swelled  the  rolls  of  the  Regiment  to  one  thousand  again. 

Captain  John  E.  Cook,  of  Company  I,  had  been  promoted 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Colonel  Livingston  being  still  on 
duty  upon  the  examining  board  in  Washington,  the  command 
of  the  Regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cook. 
Captain  J.  W.  Young,  of  Company  K,  had  also  been  pro 
moted  to  Major.  While  lying  here,  General  Rice  assumed 
command  of  the  Brigade. 

At  midnight,  October  tenth,  the  men  were  called  up  to  re- 


264  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

ceive  five  days'  rations.  Every  man  failing  to  arise,  lost  his 
rations.  This  produced  no  small  amount  of  grumbling,  es 
pecially  among  the  recruits.  Poor  fellows !  they  had  not  yet 
learned  the  elements  of  soldiering. 

The  rebels  were  reported  to'  have  retreated.  They  had 
certainly  called  in  their  pickets,  and  some  move  was  evidently 
about  to  be  made.  Everybody  believed  the  Union  army  was 
to  advance  southward^ 

Early  in  the  morning,  (October  eleventh),  the  Regiment 
was  marching  back  toward  the  river,  on  arriving  near  which 
they  lay  in  battle  order  behind  a  slight  rise  of  ground  until 
dark,  when  a  retreat  was  ordered.  A  night  march  of  ten 
miles  was  made  before  stopping.  The  night  was  so  extremely 
dark  that  a  man  could  not  be  seen  two  paces  distant.  About 
midnight  the  Regiment  reached  an  open  field  near  Culpepper 
and  rested  two  hours.  The  night,  if  possible,  grew  darker, 
and  at  two  o'clock  the  troops  were  again  on  the  march  ;  after 
a  march  of  about  four  miles,  the  regiment  reached  Stevens- 
burg,  when  a  halt  was  made. 

Stevensburg  is  situated  upon  an  eminence  from  which  a 
splendid  view  was  had  of  the  valley  from  which  the  infantry 
had  just  ascended.  Here  was  presented  a  fine  view  of  the 
contest  going  on  in  the  valley  below.  The  enemy  were  surely 
"  retreating  towards  us,"  as  Paddy  would  say,  and  our  forces 
were  evidently  making  the  best  possible  time  in  placing  the 
Rappahannock  between  them  and  the  enemy.  The  cavalry 
were  protecting  our  rear.  From  this  eminence  their  splendid 
charges  into  the  enemy's  advancing  lines,  then  their  retreats, 
could  be  distinctly  seen  with  the  naked  eye.  Then  came  the 
white  smoke  wreaths  and  the  heavy  roar  of  artillery,  mingled 
with  the  rattle  of  musketry,  all  speaking  unmistakably  of  the 
heroic  conduct  and  daring  of  the  cavalry  and  artillery. 
About  noon  the  infantry  were  hurried  off  again  in  the  direc- 


AGAIN  RETREATING.  265 

tion  of  Kelly's  Ford,  showing  conclusively  that  General 
Meade  did  not  intend  to  make  a  stand  at  this  point.  After 
a  hard  march  of  ten  miles,  the  troops  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock  and  encamped  for  the  night  four  miles  below  Rappahan- 
nock  Station.  Here  a  rest  of  one  day  was  given  to  the  men. 

Learning  that  the  enemy  were  crossing  the  river  farther  up 
with  the  evident  intention  of  flanking  our  army,  General 
Meade  ordered  the  march  resumed,  and  at  one  o'clock  in  the 
morning  the  Seventy-sixth,  with  the  other  infantry,  started 
northward  at  a  rapid  rate,  marching  thirty  miles  in  eighteen 
hours !  That  night  they  went  into  camp  near  Bristow  Station 
on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad,  tired  and  sleepy. 
Scarcely  were  their  eyes  closed,  wrhan  they  were  ordered  up  to 
receive  their  rations!  Men  cannot  live  without  food,  and 
when  life  is  at  stake,  the  soldier,  like  the  civilian,  will  relin 
quish  sleep  to  secure  his  food.  The  men,  therefore,  arose, 
drew  their  rations  at  midnight,  and  again  laid  down  ;  but  only 
to  be  soon  aroused  again  by  the  order,  "  Be  ready  to  march  in 
half  an  hour !"  and  at  daylight,  after  a  night  of  broken  rest, 
the  troops  were  on  the  march  to  Centreville,  twenty-five  miles 
distant ! 

It  was  during  this  day  that  General  Warren  made  his  cele 
brated  fight  at  Bristow  Station,  driving  back  and  capturing 
many  of  the  enemy. 

The  next  clay,  (October  fifteenth),  the  Seventy-sixth  took 
possession  of  some  old  breastworks,  and  prepared  to  repel  the 
expected  attack.  Heavy  rains  were  now  falling,  accompanied 
by  high  winds,  which  leveled  the  tents,  and  rendered  camp 
life  not  only  unpleasant,  but  dangerous. 

On  the  morning  of  October  eighteenth,  the  men  were 
ordered  at  three  o'clock  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  at  daylight. 
They  prepared  to  obey,  but  with  the  daylight  came  no  order 
to  march,  and  they  returned  again  to  camp.  The  following 


266  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  Y. 

morning  at  four  o'clock,  however,  in  the  midst  of  a  terrific 
storm  of  rain  and  wind,  the  march  was  resumed. 

The  enemy  was  expected  through  Thoroughfare  Gap,  and 
the  march  was  in  that  direction,  over  the  celebrated  Stone 
Bridge  of  first  Bull  Run  notoriety ;  over  the  whole  Bull  Run 
field;  past  the  terrible  battle-field  of  Gainesville  the  Regi 
ment  marched  to  Haymarket,  where  a  halt  was  ordered. 

On  passing  Gainesville,  many  of  the  officers  and  men  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  to  fall  out  and  view  the  ground 
whereon  they  fought  their  first  battle,  now  sacred  to  the  mem 
ory  of  so  many  heroic  comrades. 

On  coming  upon  the  field  where  the  battle  was  fought,  the 
sight  was  indeed  sickening.  Lying  about  in  every  direction 
were  the  bleaching  bones  and  ghastly  skulls  of  the  men  who 
fell  in  that  memorable  fight.  The  rebels  had  but  slightly  cov 
ered  the  dead  with  earth,  which  was  quickly  washed  off  by 
the  heavy  rains,  leaving  the  bodies  fully  exposed  to  view.  A 
detail  of  men  was  sent  in  a  few  days,  and  these  sacred  remains 
properly  buried. 

After  halting  at  Haymarket,  Lieutenant  Edwin  J.  Swan 
wras  sent  with  two  companies,  as  pickets,  near  the  entrance  to 
the  Gap,  to  prevent  a  night  surprise.  Shortly  after  arriving 
at  their  destination,  a  force  of  rebel  cavalry  came  dashing 
through  the  Gap,  and  attempted  to  capture  the  picket  line  in 
a  body.  They  succeeded  in  capturing  several  and  wounding 
others  from  a  company  from  the  Second  Brigade ;  but  by  care 
ful  manoeuvring  the  two  companies  from  the  Seventy-sixth 
were  rescued  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

The  next  day,  October  twentieth,  the  whole  Brigade 
marched  into  the  Gap,  where  they  remained  encamped  until 
the  twenty-fourth,  when  they  marched  back  through  the  Gap 
to  Gainesville.  Leaving  the  railroad  at  this  point,  the  route 
was  taken  over  the  hills  to  Bristow  Station,  where  another 


MAKCHING  CONTINUED.  267 

camp  was  formed.  This  day's  work  was  very  severe.  The 
rain  of  the  night  before  had  thoroughly  saturated  every  article 
of  the  poorly  sheltered  jmen.  The  mud  was  deep,  and  the  rain 
continued  to  fall  through  the  day.  The  men  were  forced 
to  wade  through  Broad  Bun,  then*  nearly  to  their  arms  !  The 
weather  was  very  cold.  Thus  wading  through  mud  and 
streams,  and  nearly  freezing,  the  men  marched  about  fourteen 
miles ! 

The  Seventy-sixth  'remained  in  camp  in  a  pleasant  cedar 
grove  near  Bristow,  until  November  fifth.  With  cold  fingers 
the  officers  completed  the  pay  rolls  of  their  companies. 

At  this  date  orders  were  received  to  march  in  fifteen  min 
utes.  Down  went  the  tents,  and  the  Regiment  was  soon 
moving  southward.  A  march  until  late  in  that  very  dark 
night,  brought  the  Regiment  to  Catlett's  Station.  At  ten 
o'clock  the  next  day  the  Seventy-sixth  crossed  the  railroad 
and  went  into  camp  again.  A  lively  cavalry  skirmish  was 
taking  place  near  by. 

November  1th. — The  men  were  called  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  at  daylight  started  for  Kelly's  Ford,  twenty-two 
miles  distant.  Everything  was  now  very  dry.  The  rebels,  to 
prevent  the  [advance  of  our  troops,  had  set  fire  to  the  grass 
and  forests,  and  for  nearly  the  entire'  distance,  the  fire  was 
seen  burning  on  every  side.  The  roads  were  very  rough  and 
the  marching  difficult. 

While  this  march  was  being  accomplished  by  this  Division, 
a  sharp  contest  was  going  forward  at  Rappahannock  Station, 
the  result  of  which  was  the  capture  of  nineteen  hundred  and 
fifty  rebel  prisoners,  seven  guns,  four  caissons,  nine  colors,  and 
two  thousand  stand  of  arms.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  the 
Sixth  Maine  and  Fifth  Wisconsin  so  gallantly  carried  the  two 
redoubts  at  Rappahannock  Station. 


268  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V, 

At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth,  the  Regiment 
started  for  Kelly's  Ford,  six  miles  distant,  arriving  there 
shortly  before  daylight.  Here  it  was  halted  until  noon,  then 
crossed  the  river,  and  marching  a  short  distance,  formed  in 
line  of  battle,  and  reconnoitered.  Finding  the  road  clear,  the 
march  was  resumed  until  sundown,  when  the  Regiment 
arrived  at  Brandy  Station.  The  Second  and  Third  Corps  also 
crossed  at  Kelly's  Ford,  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  crossing  at 
Rappahannock  Station.  The  rebels  had  fallen  back  to  Cul- 
pepper,  fighting  all  the  way. 

The  next  day  the  First  Corps  recrossed  the  river  and  occu 
pied  the  trenches  about  Rappahannock  Station.  November 
ninth  snow  fell  for  the  first  time  in  the  season. 

The  object  of  the  rebels  in  coming  north  at  this  time,  seems 
not  to  have  been  so  much  to  bring  on  a  decided  battle,  as  to 
destroy  the  transportation  by  means  of  which  our  forces 
would  be  able  to  occupy  an  advanced  position.  They  accord 
ingly  destroyed  the  railroad  for  a  distance  of  twenty-three 
miles. 

While  stationed  at  Rappahannock,  the  first  Corps  was 
engaged  in  repairing  the  railroad,  which,  with  the  picket  duty 
and  drill  of  recruits,  kept  the  men  actively  engaged. 

"While  here  and  at  Brandy  Station,  the  officers  became 
familiar  with  the  premises  of  that  sterling  old  patriot,  John 
Minor  Botts.  He  lived  but  a  short  distance  from  Brandy 
Station,  and  his  plantation  was  easily  distinguished  from  those 
of  his  neighbors.  While  theirs  were  fenceless,  and  general 
ruin  prevailed,  those  of  the  brave  old  loyalist  were  untouched, 
his  house,  out-houses  and  barns  were  uninjured,  and  about 
him  were  to  be  seen  very  few  of  those  unmistakable  indices  of 
war.  Each  army  had  passed  and  repassed  his  premises  five 
times,  and  yet  he  remained  unharmed.  The  rebels  respected, 
and  the  Union  men  loved  him.  He  never  covered  his  loyalty, 


JOHN  MINOK  BOTTS.  269 

and  yet  lie  was  so  timely  and  proper  in  his  declaration  of  it 
that  even  the  bitterest  rebel  could  take  no  offense.  For  a 
time  he  was  imprisoned  in  Richmond,  in  company  with  other 
loyalists.  One  day  several  of  the  rebel  generals  made  them  a 
visit.  He  had  slept  upon  the  floor  and  fared  anything  but 
sumptuously  for  nearly  six  months. 

"  Mr.  Botts,  why  don't  you  come  over  on  the  side  of  your 
State  ?  You  could  have  any  position  you  desire,"  said  one  of 
the  officers,  temptingly. 

The  old  man  straightened  himself  to  his  fullest  extent,  and 
showing  contempt  as  well  as  courage,  replied : — 

"  I  have  lived  nearly  sixty  years  under  the  flag  of  our  Union, 
and  was  never  deprived  of  my  liberty.  Your  Tag  has  been  in 
the  ascendancy  but  a  few  months,  and,  without  committing 
any  offense,  witness  my  condition !  No,  sir.  I  prefer  the  old 
flag!" 

The  old  patriot  remained  true  until  even  Southern  tyranny 
yielded,  and  he  was  set  at  liberty.  His  house  was  ever  open 
to  the  loyal,  and  there  they  felt  as  much  at  home  as  among 
the  loyal  people  of  the  North. 

November  twenty-fourth  orders  were  received  to  march. 
The  men  were  up  at  four  o'clock  and  struck  tents,  and  at  six 
were  in  readiness  to  move.  Just  then  the  order  was  counter 
manded  and  the  tents  put  up  again. 

November  26^. — This  day  was  Thanksgiving.  "Were 
human  experiences  foreordained  to  average  with  the  army's 
experiences  this  day,  a  day  of  humiliation  and  prayer  would 
be  much  more  appropriate.  At  four  o'clock  this  morning  all 
was  bustle  in  camp,  and  at  six  the  march  was  commenced,  and 
continued  at  a  rapid  pace  until  nine  o'clock  at  night.  Tired, 
hungry,  sleepy — that  was  the  soldier's  Thanksgiving! 
Camped  at  Ely's  Ford  on  ground  passed  over  by  the  Regiment 
more  than  two  years  ago,  on  the  march  from  Fredericksburg. 


270          THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

What  reminiscences  of  those  two  years  flocked  in  upon  those 
weary  heroes ! 

The  next  morning  the  men  were  called  at  three,  and  started 
at  four  o'clock.  Before  daylight  they  crossed  the  Kapidan  on 
pontoons,  and  at  half-past  seven,  after  a  very  rapid  march, 
reached  the  Chancellorsville  battle-field.  Here  a  short  rest 
was  allowed  for  breakfast,  and  then  off  for  a  long  march  into 
the  wilderness.  The  woods  were  full  of  guerrillas,  who,  hid 
den  behind  trees  and  ledges,  fired  upon  our  men,  and  then 
escaped  by  paths  unknown  to  any  but  themselves. 

On  marched  the  troops  in  search  of  something,  they  knew 
not  what.  At  length,  as  night  set  in,  the  Seventy-sixth  was 
ordered  to  march  through  the  dense  forests  by  a  private  path. 
Blackness  was  overhead,  and  all  around ;  they  knew  not  but 
this  jungle  was  full  of  the  enemy,  yet  in  they  plunged.  The 
boys  who  made  that  march  of  six  miles  through  the  woods,  will 
not  fail  to  recollect  it.  The  file  leader,  twenty-eight  inches  in 
advance,  was  invisible.  If  one  man  fell,  as  they  often  did, 
half  a  dozen  came  down  over  him  !  Mounted  officers  came 
out  so  scratched  by  the  limbs,  that  it  was  hard  to  recognize 
them  !  It  was  an  occasion  on  which  impulsive  "  cussin  "  was 
palliated,  if  not  pardoned. 

The  pike  was  finally  reached  near  Robinson's  tavern,  Gene 
ral  Meade's  headquarters,  and  the  men  were  permitted  to  halt 
and  rest.  A  march  of  twenty  miles  had  been  made,  notwith 
standing  the  difficulties. 

These  long  and  rapid  marches  always  indicate  business 
ahead,  and  the  men  hurried  forward  with  the  firm  conviction 
that  they  were  soon  to  meet  the.  enemy. 

The  next  morning,  (November  twenty-seventh),  the  bugle 
was  sounded,  and  each  man  arose  from  his  restless  slumbers 
to  engage  in  the  battle  of  Mine  Run.  After  advancing  about 
three  miles,  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were  met  and  driven  in  to 


MINE  RUN.  271 

their  main  line.  The  lines  of  battle  were  formed  along  Mine 
Run,  and  the  fight  commenced.  The  sonnd  of  the  bugle  that 
would  send  our  troops  rushing  in  a  bayonet  charge  upon  the 
enemy  was  now  momentarily  expected.  Every  man,  recruit 
and  veteran,  looked  his  duty  manfully  in  the  face,  and  firmly 
resolved  to  act  his  part  in  the  bloody  drama ;  but,  after  wait 
ing  for  some  time,  instead  of  an  order  to  charge  there  came 
one  to  support  the  batteries. 

The  rebel  sharpshooters  were  so  stationed  that  from  their 
safe  retreats  they  could  pour  a  destructive  fire  into  our  ranks. 
Aside  from  this,  there  was  very  little  infantry  firing.  A 
heavy  artillery  fire  was  kept  up  all  along  the  line  for  some 
time,  the  infantry  acting  as  supports.  This  was  the  first  fire 
under  which  the  recruits  had  been  placed,  and,  to  them,  it 
was  an  all-important  event.  As  they  hugged  the  ground,  and 
listened  to  the  whizzing  of  bullets  and  screeching  of  shells, 
the  roar  of  artillery,  and  the  quick  crack  of  the  sharpshooters' 
rifles,  they  believed  that  Mine  Run  was  the  decisive  battle  of 
the  war.  To  the  old  veterans,  the  expressions  of  the  recruits 
would  have  seemed  supremely  ridiculous,  had  they  not  remem 
bered  the  time  of  their  initiation. 

"  My  heavens !     There  was  a  shell  burst  right  over  us !" 
"  D'ye  hear  that?     That  was  a  cannon  ball !" 
"  Who  in  h — 1  did  that  ?"  exclaimed  a  recruit,  as  his  coffee 
cup  flew  into  the  air  from  the  coals  he  was  blowing. 

"  Guess  he  did  n't  see  the  cannon  ball  that  passed  between 
his  legs !"  said  a  veteran,  with  a  complacent  smile. 

The  recruit  was  not  long,  however,  in  learning  the  facts. 
No  fires  were  allowed,  except  a  few  coals.  The  recruit  was 
cooking  his  coffee,  leaning  over  to  blow  the  fire,  when  a  can 
non  ball  passing  between  his  legs,  became  the  author  of  his 
catastrophe !  This  incident  was  the  basis  of  many  a  stirring 
letter  from  the  recruits  to  their  Northern  friends. 


272  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  K.  Y.  Y. 

One  regiment  of  the  Brigade,  the  Seventh  Indiana,  made  a 
gallant  charge  across  the  stream,  capturing  the  enemy's  rifle 
pits,  and  several  prisoners,  but  no  orders  being  given  for  the 
advance  of  supports,  they  were  compelled  to  abandon  their 
prize  and  return.  During  the  engagement,  several  companies 
of  the  Seventy-sixth  were  sent  to  the  front  on  picket.  The 
sharpshooters  of  the  enemy  rendered  the  position  of  these 
men  very  precarious.  The  enemy  occupied  one  side  of  the 
Kun,  and  our  forces  were  compelled  to  occupy  the  other,  a 
portion  of  the  distance  in  the  open  field,  on  the  slope  of  the 
hill  facing  and  in  plain  view  of  the  enemy.  Many  of  our 
men  were  wounded  while  occupying  this  position.  It  became 
necessary  to  erect  breastworks,  and  dig  rifle  pits,  behind  and 
in  which  the  men  would  take  refuge  during  the  day.  When 
ever  a  head  appeared  above  the  fortifications  it  was  sure  to  be 
saluted  by  a  volley  of  balls.  It  was  during  this  dangerous 
service  that  James  Jameson,  of  Company  D,  showed  the  true 
courage  of  which  he  was  possessed.  Dissatisfied  with  his  for 
tification,  he  continued  to  run  out  and  seize  stones,  and  bring 
them  to  his  pit,  each  time  receiving  a  volley,  until  he  had 
erected  a  respectable  fortification,  and  yet  not  a  bullet  touched 
him  I 

"  I  have  no  fears  of  this  picket  duty,"  said  a  private  of 
Company  D,  rather  famous  for  his  dislike  of  the  smell  of 
powder. 

"  Well,  I  will  detail  you  for  that  service  to-day,"  replied 
Captain  Byram,  with  a  sly  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

"  But,  Captain,  I  havn't  any  gun." 

"  Never  mind ;  here  is  the  gun  of  Ed.  Watrous.  He  is  sick 
to-day." 

The  matter  had  gone  too  far  to  retreat.  The  next  day,  on 
returning,  our  hero  reported  to  the  Captain  the  result  of  his 
picketing : — 


THE  YALIANT  PICKET.  273 

"  I  killed  ten  and  wounded  five,  Captain." 
"  Indeed !     How  many  times  did  you  fire  ?" 
u  Just  fifteen.     I  tell  you,  Captain,  I  drew  a  bead  on  them 
and  never  missed  once  !" 

Ed.  Watrous  heard  this  conversation.  Stepping  one  side 
he  put  down  the  "  wormer  "  and  drew  out  the  same  piece  of 
his  pocket  handkerchief  that  he  put  on  top  of  the  cartridge 
before  his  gun  went  on  picket  that  morning  !  Charity  would 
impel  the  belief  that  the  picket  thought  he  had  fired  the  gun. 

A  general  engagement  was  almost  momentarily  expected. 
But,  though  skirmishing  was  continued  for  three  days,  with 
occasional  heavy  cannonading  on  both  sides,  and  some  losses, 
no  general  engagement  took  place,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  (five  o'clock  P.  M.,  December  first,  1863),  suffering  from 
the  intense  cold,  and  hunger,  the  Union  Army  again  started 
on  the  retreat !  It  seemed  as  though  some  ill-fated  star 
controlled  the  destiny  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  whenever 
it  met  the  enemy  on  the  soil  of  Virginia. 

The  Seventy-sixth  arrived  near  Germania  Ford  on  the 
Rapidan  about  eleven  o'clock,  after  a  very  hard  march. 

The  next  morning,  (December  second),  the  Regiment 
crossed  the  Rapidan,  and  marching  ten  miles,  went  into  camp 
near  Stevensburg.  Resting  here  for  the  night,  the  retreat 
was  continued  the  next  morning  to  near  Kelly's  Ford.  Here 
the  men  were  ordered  to  erect  winter  quarters  The  veterans 
had  too  often  heard  and  obeyed  that  order,  then  marched 
away  and  left  them  as  soon  as  finished,  to  place  much  faith  in 
the  order.  But  building  tents  for  others  was  better  than 
idleness  in  the  cold,  so  they  set  briskly  at  work,  and  in  a  few 
days  the  log  city  was  completed,  and  the  men  at  home  again. 

The  veterans  were  correct  in  supposing  their  labor  in  build 
ing  would  be  lost,  for  with  December  twenty-fourth  came  an 
order  to  march,  and  at  six  o'clock  A.  M.,  they  bade  adieu  to 
s 


274:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

their  "city  of  ten  streets,"  and,  marching  twelve  miles,  went 
into  camp  a  mile  southwest  of  Culpepper.  The  ground  was 
well  chosen  in  a  beautiful  chestnut  grove,  and  there,  after 
three  disappointments  that  winter,  they  built  what  proved  to 
be  their  real  winter  quarters. 

It  should  have  been  mentioned  that  Adolphus  Morse,  of 
Company  F,  was  tried  for  desertion,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot 
on  the  twenty-seventh  of  November  ;  but  through  the  exer 
tion  of  Hon.  R.  II.  Duell,  and  the  writer,  his  sentence  was 
suspended  by  President  Lincoln  on  the  twenty-fifth,  and  after 
wards  commuted  to  imprisonment  at  hard  labor,  in  Fort  Jef 
ferson,  Florida,  where  he  subsequently  died. 

The  year  1863  wore  away,  chronicling  long  and  weary 
marches  through  broiling  suns  and  dusty  roads,  then  sleet  and 
rains,  with  muddy  wadings,  then  severe  frosts  and  chilling 
night  marches.  Yet  with  all  this  added  to  much  heroic  en 
durance  and  almost  matchless  fighting,  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  had  accomplished  little  of  practical  utility.  Though 
it  had  marched  and  countermarched  over  the  entire  northern 
part  of  Virginia,  across  Maryland  into  Pennsylvania,  and 
back  again,  it  passed  this  winter  but  a  few  miles  farther 
south  than  the  winter  before. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 


WINTER  QUARTERS— RE-ENLISTING— FURLOUGHS— THEATER  ESTABLISHED— PRESENTA 
TION  or  A  NEW  STAND  OF  COLORS  BY  THE  LADIES  or  CHERRY  VALLEY— PARTING 
WITH  "  THE  OLD  FLAG  "—A  MARCH— ENGAGEMENT  AT  RACCOON  FORD— RETURN  TO 
WINTER  QUARTERS— GENERAL  GRANT  ASSUMES  COMMAND— GENERAL  WADSWORTH 
RETURNS— RE-ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY— PREPARATIONS  FOR  A  GRAND  ADVANCE. 


DURING  the  stay  in  winter  quarters  at  Culpepper,  the  men 
employed  their  time  in  drill,  picket  and  police  duty,  very 
much  as  during  the  preceding  winter.  Several  that  had  been 
absent  in  hospitals  and  on  detached  duty  returned,  so  that 
there  were  gathered  during  the  winter,  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  of  the  original  men,  about  one  hundred  of 
whom  re-enlisted  as  veterans.  In  one  Company,  (II),  thirty- 
two  thus  re-enlisted.  Under  a  general  order,  this  entitled 
them  to  a  thirty-day  furlough,  to  visit  their  friends,  a  favor 
which  they  joyfully  accepted.  Many  of  the  men  had  not 
been  home  since  leaving  at  first,  nearly  two  years  and  a  half 
before,  and  the  thought,  after  passing  through  so  many  perils, 
of  visiting  those  homes  again,  sent  a  thrill  of  joy  through 
every  veteran. 

January  5tk,  1864. — The  Seventy-sixth  was,  at  this  date, 
transferred  temporarily  to  the  First  Brigade.  It  remained 
attached  to  that  Brigade  but  a  month,  when  it  was  again 
transferred  to  the  Second  Brigade. 

During  the  month  of  January,  General  Bice  commanding 


276  THE  SEVENTY- SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

the  Brigade,  organized  a  theatrical  troupe  for  the  amusement 
of  his  command.  A  large  log  house  was  erected  with  all  the 
necessary  appurtenances,  and  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  Jan 
uary  the  theater  was  opened  with  a  "  grand  entertainment  by 
the  Star  Troupe."  It  may  be  that  the  spirit  of  Shakspeare 
might  have  detected  mistakes,  and  directed  Hamlet  to  renew 
his  advice  to  the  players,  yet  nothing  was  ever  instituted  in 
the  army  better  calculated  to  drive  away  the  ennui  of  camp 
life.  At  this  opening,  one  of  the  "  boxes  "  was  graced  by 
General  Rice  and  lady,  while  the  notables  were  thickly  scat 
tered  through  the  democratic  combination  of  "  parquette," 
"  dress  "  and  "  family  circles."  Never  was  the  drama  or  the 
comedy  enacted  to  a  more  appreciative  auditory  than  that 
assembled  on  these  cracker-box  seats.  Gathered  in  from  the 
log  huts  and  canvas  tents,  the  rough  and  smoky  retreats  of 
the  heroic  sons  of  liberty,  these  veteran  heroes  had  reason  to 
praise  in  no  stinted  terms  the  General  whose  Yankee  inge 
nuity,  and  interest  in  the  happiness  of  his  men,  had  projected 
so  philanthropic  an  enterprise.  No  wonder  that  when  a  few 
months  after  this  the  noble  General  gave  up  his  life  on  the 
sanguinary  field,  the  whole  command  was  in  mourning. 

February  2d. — The  splendid  stand  of  colors  presented  to 
the  Regiment  at  Albany,  on  behalf  of  Mrs.  Campbell,  had 
become  riddled  by  the  balls  and  shells  of  at  least  eleven  bat 
tles,  in  the  front  ranks  of  which  it  had  waved.  The  ladies  of 
Cherry  Yalley  had  conceived  the  noble  idea  of  replacing 
them  by  a  new  banner.  The  silken  flag  was  presented  on 
behalf  of  the  fair  donors,  in  the  following  chaste  speech  for 
warded  by  them,  and  was  appropriately  replied  to  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Cook,  on  behalf  of  the  Regiment  :— 

"  Lieutenant- Colonel  and  Privates  of  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  Volunteers : 
In  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  Cherry  Yalley,  we  testify  to  the  most  unsullied 
pleasure  in  paying  this  slight  tribute  to  your  bravery  and  worth.  Anxious 


FLAG  PRESENTATION.  277 

and  admiring  eyes  have  followed  you  ever  since  you  bade  farewell  to  the 
hills  of  the  Empire  State.  We  have  watched  your  bright  career,  and 
marked  all  your  fierce  struggles  with  the  foe,  from  Rappahannock  Station 
to  Gettysburg.  We  have  peculiarly  sympathized  with  you  in  all  your 
hardships  and  trials,  and  rejoiced  with  you  when  victory  has  been  yours. 
Arid  might  we  not  do  so  ?  Was  not  the  glory  ours  as  well  as  yours  ?  Was 
it  not  won  by  our  friends  and  brothers  of  the  noble  Seventy-sixth? 

We  have  looked  upon  the  torn  remnants  of  your  old  flag,  and  the  sight 
of  it  has  inspired  our  hearts  with  a  new  warmth  towards  you.  It  came  to 
us  like  a  wounded  friend,  telling  us  of  blood  and  carnage  which  we  once 
thought  could  never  desolate  our  happy  country.  It  told  us  of  noble  hearts 
that  once  beat  in  unison  with  yours,  but  whose  manly  forms  are  now 
missing  from  your  number;  whose  battles  of  life  and  country  ended 
together ;  your  brothers  and  ours,  whose  work  on  earth  is  done,  but  whose 
memory  will  ever  live  in  our  hearts.  It  told  us,  too,  of  deeds  of  daring 
that  made  our  hearts  thrill  with  wonder  and  admiration. 

Tears  were  shed  in  memory  of  those  noble-hearted  heroes,  who,  in  rear 
ing  that  proud  standard  above  the  heads  of  your  gallant  band,  have  poured 
out  their  hearts'  blood  for  their  country,  and  now  the  folds  of  that  sacred 
relic  bear  witness  to  their  loyalty,  and  *his,  one  of  Cherry  Valley's  sons, 
whose  bravery  saved  it  from  the  hands  of  the  foe.  As  his  familiar  name 
was  spoken,  the  prayer,  '  God  bless  him,'  arose  from  many  a  heart.  Thus 
with  a  knowledge  of  your  achievements  still  fresh  upon  us,  we  present  you 
anew  with  your  country's  emblem,  not  hoping,  but  knowing,  that  you  will 
protect  it  to  the  last ;  for  as  one  has  well  said,  '  The  past  history  of  the 
Seventy-sixth  is  sufficient  guarantee  that  it  will  never  be  disgraced.' 

In  asking  you  to  bid  adieu  to  the  old  flag,  we  are  aware  that  it  is  request 
ing  you,  as  it  were,  to  take  leave  of  an  old  friend,  who  has  been  your 
talisman  through  many  a  hard-fought  battle.  When  victory  has  crowned 
your  arms  with  success,  its  proud  head  has  been  lifted  as  in  defiance  of  all 
attempts  of  the  foe  to  tear  it  from  its  high  position,  and  many  a  loyal  heart 
has  looked  upon  and  blessed  it.  When  dark  clouds  have  hung  threaten 
ingly  over  it,  past  successes  have  cheered  your  hearts  and  bade  you  hope 
against  hope. 

But  this  new  friend  will  hold  no  second  place  in  your  affections.  And 
now,  as  we  entrust  to  your  keeping  this  most  sacred  emblem  of  all  that  is 
most  dear  to  an  American  heart,  we  pray  you  guard  it  well.  Let  no  star 
be  sundered  from  its  sister  stars,  but  with  colors  undimined,  and  its  silken 
folds  unmarred,  let  it  be  borne  with  a  firm  and  steady  hand. 

•Sergeant  John  Stephens,  of  Company  H. 


278  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

And  now  let  the  prayers  of  us  all  arise  to  heaven,  that ( this  cruel  war ' 
may  soon  be  '  over,'  and  until  then  may  the  strong  arms  of  Divine  Love, 
encircle  you ;  stay  the  hand  of  the  foemen  in  its  deadly  work,  and  bring 
you  once  more  in  safety  to  your  homes,  where  loving  hearts  are  impatiently 
waiting  to  welcome  you. 

MARY  STACEY, 
GEORGE  P.  ENGELL  * 
ELOISE  CLYDE." 

The  old  banner,  like  many  of  the  heroes  who  welcomed  it 
at  Albany,  and  followed  it  on  the  field,  had  been  "  expended 
in  the  service,"  and  was  to  be  furled  for  deposit  in  the 
archives  of  the  State,  as  a  silent  but  eloquent  eulogist  of  the 
services  of  the  Regiment  it  had  so  long  accompanied.  What 
wonder  that  the  boys  bade  it  a  tearful  farewell,  as  Captain 
Swan  bore  it  away  to  its  final  post  of  honor  I  Fourteen  bul 
lets,  one  shell  and  three  fragments  of  shell  had  passed  through 
this  sacred  relic,  and  their  rents  will  ever  bear  witness  at  the 
Capital  where  it  joined  us,  of  the  dangerous  proximity  of  the 
Seventy-sixth  to  the  enemy. 

February  6th. — The  train  was  sent  to  Culpepper,  and 
the  Seventy-sixth  proceeded  to  Raccoon  Ford  on  the  Rapidan. 
On  reaching  the  Ford  a  sharp  engagement  took  place,  the 
enemy  being  driven  across  the  river.  During  the  day  the 
sharpshooters,  posted  in  the  buildings  about  the  Ford,  seriously 
annoyed  our  men,  while  they  were  themselves  protected.  In 
the  evening  a  dash  was  made  at  those  buildings,  and  they 
were  burned,  our  troops  retreating  by  the  aid  of  their  light. 
The  object  of  this  movement  was  not  so  much  to  bring  on  an 
engagement,  as  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  the  enemy.  This 
accomplished,  the  army  returned  to  its  winter  quarters.  The 
weather  was  chilly  and  the  roads  were  very  muddy,  still  the 
men  came  wading  into  camp  in  high  glee,  singing  camp  songs, 

*Since  died  in  his  country's  service. 


CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION.  279 

and  making  the  woods  and  hills  echo  with  their  shouts  and 
laughter. 

February  l±th. — The  Chaplain  of  the  Kegiment,  having 
long  since  resigned,  the  first  sermon  for  nearly  a  year,  was 
listened  to  on  this  day.  This  was  preached  by  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Commission.  This  noble  organization  will 
never  be  duly  appreciated  in  this  life, — the  results  of  its 
labors  can  only  be  read  in  the  light  of  the  hereafter.  The 
system  of  army  chaplains  was  exceedingly  defective,  not  to 
use  the  harsher  term,  pernicious.  Without  alluding  to  specific 
cases,  we  speak  of  the  whole  system  as  a  sad  failure — as  not 
even  an  approach  to  the  object  in  view  in  its  organization. 
Young  ministers  leaving  home  with  the  patriotic  intention,  of 
rendering  spiritual  assistance  and  guidance,  very  frequently 
became  contaminated  by  the  change  of  life  and  associations  of 
camp,  and  instead  of  remaining  a  beacon  light  to  the  wreck 
ing  soldier,  became  the  bad  example  which  bred  contempt  for 
all  saintly  pretensions,  and  thus  steeled  the  hearts  of  the  sol 
diery  against  those  better  convictions  which  soldiers,  of  all 
men,  most  need.  ,  The  Christian  Commission  avoided  the 
evils  resulting  from  the  intimate  and  familiar  associations  be 
tween  chaplain  and  men,  sending  to  the  field  for  short  periods 
volunteer  ministers,  fresh  and  pure  from  their  Christian  asso 
ciations  at  home — men  who  went  into  the  work  with  zeal  and 
with  the  advantage  of  having  their  defects,  (and  who  has 
them  not  ?)  unknown,  and  were  thus  enabled  to  impress  upon 
the  soldiery  the  truthfulness  of  their  precepts.  Many  minis 
ters,  by  remaining  for  some  time  in  the  army,  so  lost 
confidence  in  themselves  as  to  refuse  to  preach  to  the  men 
with  whom  they  associated,  when  requested  to  do  so. 

February  twenty-third  was  a  proud  day  for  the  Seventy- 
sixth.  General  Newton  had  a  grand  review  of  his  Corps, 
comprising  about  two  thousand  men.  The  First  Brigade,  (to 


280  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

which  the  Seventy-sixth  was  still  attached),  was  pronounced 
the  best  Brigade  in  the  Corps,  and  Colonel  Morrow,  com 
manding  the  Brigade,  tickled  the  pride  of  the  Seventy-sixth 
by  remarking  that  it  was  the  best  Kegiment  in  the  Brigade. 

On  the  sixth  of  March,  the  Seventy-sixth  was  transferred 
from  the  First  to  the  Second  Brigade,  from  which  it  was 
detached  in  January.  Though  attached  to  this  Brigade  by 
the  common  dangers  and  privations  of  nearly  two  years,  they 
left  the  celebrated  "  Iron  Brigade  "  with  regret. 

Thursday,  March  twenty-fourth,  1864,  General  Grant,  the 
hero  of  the  West,  arrived  at  Culpepper  Court  House,  to  take 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Now  that  the  clouds 
have  lifted,  and  we  read  the  history  of  this  army,  we  come  to 
understand  somewhat  the  importance  of  this  announcement  to 
the  country.  The  halting,  hesitating  style  of  fighting  which, 
to  that  time,  had  characterized  the  movements  of  this  army 
was  now  at  an  end,  and  we  are  to  record  only  forward  marches 
and  an  ultimate  and  glorious  triumph !  After  this  the  army 
was  to  be  led  by  a  general  who  had  no  idea  of  his  position 
when  he  was  whipped,  and  when  other  generals  would  have 
ordered  a  retreat  behind  the  Rapidan,  Rappahannock,  or  Po 
tomac  ;  but  who  never  failed  to  follow  up  a  defeat  of  the 
enemy,  and  to  gather  all  the  laurels  won  by  the  bravery  of 
his  army.  To  those  who  had  watched  his  career,  the  advent 
of  General  Grant  into  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  surely 
"  the  gleaming  of  the  dawning  of  the  day." 

To  the  Seventy-sixth  there  was  the  return  of  another  officer 
in  whom  they  had  most  implicit  confidence.  General  Wads- 
worth  now  returned  to  assume  command  of  a  Division — alas ! 
too  soon  to  offer  up  his  life  on  his  country's  altar  ! 

The  next  day  after  the  appearance  of  these  generals,  the 
reorganization  of  the  army  commenced.  By  hard  fighting, 
severe  marches,  and  sickly  camps,  the  army  [had  become 


^REORGANIZATION  or  THE  AKMY.  281 

greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  and  though  recruits  had  been 
sent  forward,  many  of  the  regiments  were  still  mere  skeletons. 
This,  together  with  some  "  augurs  that  would  not  bore,"  made 
a  change  and  "  weeding  out  "  necessary.  In  this  consolida 
tion,  the  First  Corps  was  reduced  to  two  Divisions,  and 
transferred  to  the  Fifth  Corps,  under  command  of  General 
Warren.  One  Division  of  the  Third  Corps  was  assigned  to 
the  Sixth,  and  the  other  two  Divisions  to  the  Second  Corps. 
The  First  and  Third  Corps,  though  thus  consolidated,  and 
thus  losing  their  identity,  were  permitted  to  retain  their 
badges  and  marks  of  honor.  The  officers  and  men  deeply 
regretted  this  consolidation.  For  nearly  two  years  they  had 
been  identified  with  the  First  Division  of  the  First  Corps,  and 
that  "  there  is  something  in  a  name  "  is  no  where  more  fully 
recognized  than  in  the  army. 

"  To  what  Corps  do  you  belong  ?" 

"  To  the  old  First,"  was  ever  a  proud  response,  after  Gettys 
burg. 

But  the  loss  of  name  was  fully  compensated  in  the  minds 
of  the  men,  by  the  fact  that  their  Division,  (now  the  Fourth), 
was  to  be  commanded  by  the  heroic  and  patriotic  Wadsworth. 
His  disinterested  patriotism  in  leaving  his  large  and  lucrative 
business  to  fight  for  principle  without  pay ;  his  gallant  conduct 
in  crossing  the  river  at  Fredericksburg,  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy ;  his  kind  care  of  his  troops,  all  tended  to  give  him  a 
firm  lodgment  in  the  heart  of  each  man  in  his  command. 

The  Seventy-sixth  was  now  in  the  Second  Brigade,  com 
manded  by  General  Rice,  Fourth  Division,  commanded  by 
General  Wadsworth,  Fifth  Corps,  commanded  by  General 
Warren. 

March  %9th. — In  the  midst  of  a  storm  the  army  was  re 
viewed  by  Lieutenant-General  Grant.  Owing  to  this  storm, 
the  men  were  not  ordered  to  march  in  review,  but  the  com- 


282  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

man  ding  General,  accompanied  by  his  staff,  General  Meade, 
and  other  distinguished  Generals,  rode  the  length  of  the  lines. 

"  The  old  hero  looks  better  than  I  supposed." 

"  His  pictures  belie  him." 

"  Where  the  divil  is  his  pipe  ?" 

"  There  will  be  no  halting  or  retreating  now." 

These  were  some  of  the  expressions  called  forth  by  the 
presence  of  General  Grant. 

Nothing  except  ordinary  camp  experiences  transpired  until 
the  latter  part  of  April3  when  rumors  of  a  march  filled  the 
camp.  The  necessary  camp  and  garrison  equipage  was  dis 
tributed  ;  quartermasters'  stores  turned  in ;  transportation 
delivered  over  to  the  Division  Quartermaster,  and  everything 
betokened  an  advance  of  the  army.  The  campaign  of  1864, 
under  the  new  commander  was  about  to  be  inaugurated. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

ON  THE  MARCH— BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS— THREE  COMPANIES  OF  THE  SEVENTY- 
SIXTH  AS  SKIRMISHERS— INTERMINABLE  FORESTS— A  CLEARING  IN  THE  WILDERNESS 
—FALLING  INTO  AN  AMBUSH— THE  THREE  COMPANIES  CAPTURED  BY  THE  REBELS— 
CONFUSION  IN  THE  REBEL  RANKS— BRIGADE  COMMANDERS  OPINION  OF  THE  SEVENTY- 
SIXTH—SEVERE  FIGHTING— DEATH  OF  GENERAL  WADSWORTH— DEATH  OF  ADJUTANT 
CARPENTER  AND  CAPTAIN  BARTHOLOMEW— OFF  FOR  SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

MAY  fourth,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  Second  Brig 
ade  broke  camp  at  Culpepper,  and  moved  on  the  Rapidan 
river.  It  consisted,  at  that  time,  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cook ;  the  Fourteenth  Brook 
lyn,  Colonel  Fowler ;  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
New  York,  Colonel  Miller  ;  the  Ninety-fifth  New  York,  Col 
onel  Pye ;  and  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  Colonel  Hofmann. 
The  Brigade  had  present  a  little  over  two  thousand  men,  and 
was  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  J.  C.  Rice. 

The  Brigade  crossed  the  Rapidan  over  a  pontoon  bridge, 
at  Germania  Ford,  about  noon,  and,  marching  to  near  the 
Wilderness  Tavern,  encamped  at  five  o'clock  P.  M.  The 
weather  was  fine,  and  men  never  marched  with  greater 
alacrity  than  on  this  occasion. 

At  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  Second  Brigade 
moved  on  Parker's  store  about  four  miles  distant.  After 
marching  about  two  miles  it  was  halted  formed  in  line  of  bat 
tle,  and  moved  through  a  dense  wood  for  the  distance  of  nearly 
a  mile,  when  it  was  met  by  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  from  an 


284:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

unseen  enemy.  Here  they  halted  and  returned  the  fire,  when 
a  sharp  engagement  ensued.  The  Second  Brigade  at  this 
time  occupied  the  left  flank  of  the  Division. 

Three  companies  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  B,  F  and  K,  were, 
at  this  point,  thrown  out  as  skirmishers,  to  cover  the  left  flank, 
Major  Young  commanding  them.  They  soon  reported  the 
enemy  to  be  advancing  in  a  line  extending  far  beyond  the  left 
of  our  forces.  Almost  simultaneously  with  this  report,  the 
line  on  the  right  fell  back  in  disorder,  and  was  followed  by 
this  Brigade.  The  underbrush  was  very  dense,  and  the  men 
found  great  difficulty  in  making  their  way  through  it.  The 
enemy,  still  unseen,  continued  to  pour  in  a  very  destructive 
fire.  At  the  end  of  half  a  mile  the  officers  succeeded  in  ral 
lying  about  three  "hundred  and  fifty  men  on  the  crest  of  a 
slight  eminence,  and  prepared  to  hold  the  position.  At  this 
moment,  an  aid  of  General  Wadsworth  arrived,  with  instruc 
tions  to  move  some  distance  to  the  rear,  where  the  Division 
was  reforming.  Shortly  after  the  skirmishers  were  sent  out 
they  received  orders  to  advance  their  line  two  miles,  and  on 
arriving  at  the  point  indicated,  to  remain  until  further  orders, 
and  avoid  bringing  on  a  battle.  This  whole  movement  of 
General  Grant  to  the  Wilderness  was  intended  as  one  of  his 
remarkable  flank  movements,  and  no  battle  was  intended  at 
that  point.  To  this  end  no  fires  were  allowed  to  be  lighted 
on  the  night  the  troops  left  Culpepper,  and  they  were  ordered 
to  make  no  noise. 

The  skirmishers  marched  to  the  required  position  without 
meeting  any  opposition.  In  a  few  moments,  however,  heavy 
firing  was  heard  on  the  right,  and  a  skirmish  line  at  least 
twice  as  strong  as  ours  appeared  in  front,  and  opened  a  heavy 
fire.  Our  skirmishers,  and  especially  Company  B,  were  in  an 
open  field,  exposed  to  the  enemy,  who  were  covered  by  the 
wood.  From  this  wood  the  balls  came  like  rain,  but  not  a 


OUR  SKIRMISHERS  AT  THE  WILDERNESS.  285 

rebel   could  be  seen.     The  order  was  finally  given   to  re 
treat  to  another  wood  about  twenty  rods  to  the  rear. 

The  rebels,  seeing  our  skirmishers  retire,  and  considering  it 
a  defeat,  rushed  out  into  the  open  field  in  pursuit.  E~o  sooner, 
however,  had  they  reched  the  open  space  than  they  received  a 
most  destructive  fire,  which  sent  them  reeling  back  in  disorder 
to  the  wood  again.  They  soon  rallied  and  came  out  again 
with  a  rush  and  a  yell  of  defiance.  Again  were  they  received 
with  a  galling  fire  ;  but  though  they  fell  in  great  numbers, 
considering  the  force  engaged,  they  kept  on  until  they  reached 
a  fence  about  the  middle  of  the  field.  A  heavy  fire  was  kept 
up  on  both  sides.  Our  skirmishers  occupied  a  most  danger 
ous  position  upon  the  side  of  a  hill  sloping  toward  the 
enemy,  and  though  in  the  wood,  there  were  no  trees  of  very 
large  size,  and  they  were  only  screened  from  sight  by  bushes. 
Our  men  were,  therefore,  ordered  back  about  fifteen  rods,  to  a 
point  more  heavily  timbered.  The  enemy  advanced  to  the 
position  thus  abandoned.  Here  our  skirmishers  met  with  a 
new  difficulty.  A  portion  of  the  line  on  the  right  gave  away 
and  before  the  fact  became  known  to  the  whole  line,  the  ene 
my  had  turned  our  flank.  A  portion  of  Company  B  was  sent 
to  drive  them  back,  when  a  severe  hand  to  hand  conflict  took 
place,  resulting  in  our  favor.  When  it  was  ascertained  that 
our  skirmish  line  was  broken,  a  staff  officer,  who  had  accom 
panied  the  line,  started  back  to  learn  the  state  of  affairs  in  the 
rear.  He  had  not  rode  over  fifty  rods,  when  he  found  a  rebel 
line  in  rear  of  our  skirmishers,  which  fired  upon,  wounded  and 
captured  him.  On  learning  the  condition  of  affairs,  an  order 
was  silently  passed  up  the  line  to  assemble  on  the  right.  Com 
panies  F  and  K,  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  several  companies 
from  other  regiments,  came  down  and  reported  the  attack 
upon  them.  The  officers,  about  fifteen  in  number,  now  held 
a  council  to  determine  what  course  to  pursue.  The  situation 


286  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  !N.  Y.  Y. 

was  desperate.  Already  the  horrors  of  rebel  prison  pens 
loomed  up  before  them.  The  rebel  skirmishers  were  in  front. 
Retreat  was  made  impossible  by  a  rebel  line  of  battle  in  the 
rear  !  To  add  to  the  difficulty,  so  much  shifting  and  fighting 
had  occurred,  that  the  officers  had  lost  the  points  of  compass 
and  could  not  tell  the  direction  of  our  main  force.  The  forest 
was  one  dense  net  work  of  dwarf  pines.  It  was,  indeed, 
properly  styled,  "  the  wilderness."  The  council  failed  to 
agree,  as  other  councils  had  done  before,  and  was  summarily 
broken  up  by  the  appearance  at  this  juncture,  of  the  negro 
servant  of  an  officer,  who  notified  the  council  that  a  force  of 
rebel  cavalry  was  near.  The  officer  in  command  of  our  skir 
mishers  insisted  that  everything  indicated  that  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  had  been  defeated,  and  had  retreated  toward  the 
Rapidan,  and  that  the  only  way  to  get  out  of  the  dilemma 
was  to  march  in  the  direction  of  the  sound  of  battle.  The 
order  was  given  to  fall  in,  and  the  march  commenced. 

About  this  time,  as  one  of  our  men  was  marching  in  with 
a  rebel  prisoner,  a  rebel  colonel  rode  up  and  demanded  :— 

"  Halt !     Where  are  you  going  ?" 

"  To  the  Union  Army,"  replied  our  captor,  somewhat  dis 
comfited  at  meeting  two,  and  seeing  the  cocked  revolver 
pointing  at  his  head. 

"  Give  up  that  gun  to  the  prisoner,"  said  the  Colonel ; 
"march  him  back  to  our  camp  !"  and  away  rode  the  Colonel. 
No  sooner  had  he  gone  than  the  rebel  handed  back  the  gun, 
remarking : — 

"  Take  it  and  march  me  to  your  camp.  I've  done  with  this 
confederacy !"  and  thus  the  two  came  in. 

The  march  of  the  skirmishers  now  commenced.  Homer 
D.  Call,  with  a  detachment,  marched  some  distance  in  the 
rear,  to  prevent  any  surprise  in  that  direction.  But,  unfortu 
nately,  no  precautions  were  taken  against  a  surprise  on  the 


THE  SKIRMISHERS  m  TROUBLE.  287 

flank.  The  detachment  moved  on  to  where  two  paths  crossed 
each  other  at  right  angles.  A  council  was  held  as  to  the 
proper  path  to  take,  which  resulted,  like  the  former,  in  a  disa 
greement.  Several  of  the  men  climbed  the  trees,  but  reported 
that  nothing  could  be  seen  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  but 
interminable  forests.  After  marching  about  half  a  mile 
further,  a  path  was  discovered  leading  to  a  small  house  in  a 
clearing  not  far  off.  To  this  several  of  the  men  repaired,  and 
were  informed  that  no  armed  troops  had  been  seen  about 
there  that  day.  This  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  commandant 
of  the  detachment,  he  marched  his  command  to  the  house. 
The  Regiment  had  bivouacked  at  the  Gold  Mills  the  night 
before,  and  it  was  desirable  that  the  detachment  should  be  di 
rected  thence,  when  they  would  know  their  whereabouts. 

"  Do  you  know  where  the  Gold  Mills  are  ?"  inquired  the 
Captain,  of  the  "  lord  of  the  manor." 

"  Sartinly,"  was  the  laconic  reply. 

"How  far  is  it?" 

"  Wall,  I  reckon  it  is  about  two  miles." 

"  Can  you  take  us  to  it  ?" 

"  Could  n't  think  of  it,  "When  I'm  gone,  who  knows  who 
might  tote  off  my  wife  and  young  uns.  Could  n't  think  of  it, 


sir." 


"  No  excuses  will  do,  sir,"  replied  the  Captain.  "  You 
must  act  as  our  guide." 

"  Oh,  sir !  you  would  not  think  of  taking  my  father  ?" 
pleaded  the  daughter.  "  What  should  we  do  were  some  acci 
dent  to  befall  him  ?" 

"No  accident  will  befall  him,  madam,"  replied  the  Captain, 
"  We'll  send  him  back  safely  when  he  puts  us  upon  the  right 
track." 

"  Will  you  permit  me  to  accompany  him,  then  ?"  asked  the 
daughter. 


288  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  BEGIMENT  'N.  Y.  Y. 

"  Certainly."  And  thus  with  two  guides,  the  detachment 
resumed  its  march.  They  shortly  reached  a  path  which  the 
guides  declared  to  be  the  direct  road,  and  then  asked  permis 
sion  to  return,  which  a  staff  officer  mistakingly  granted.  It 
was  soon  discovered  that  the  Regiment  had  passed  over  this 
road  in  December,  on  its  way  to  Mine  Run.  The  guide  and 
his  daughter  had  scarcely  left,  when  the  detachment  came  to 
ground  which  had  that  day  been  burned  over,  and  several 
dead  bodies  were  strewn  about,  showing  that  they  were  even 
then  upon  the  battle-field.  Advancing  a  few  rods  farther  the 
detachment  fell  into  an  ambush,  and  received  a  volley  from  a 
whole  rebel  brigade.  Being  at  short  range,  the  execution  was 
fearful.  Many  fell  wounded,  among  wThom  was  Lieutenant 
"William  Cahill,  of  Company  B,  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  and 
one  arm  broken.  All  the  wounded  and  about  half  the  others 
were  captured  on  the  spot.  The  remainder  broke  and  ran, 
but  were  pursued  by  a  strong  force  and  mostly  captured. 

The  battle  continued  to  rage  at  the  front,  and  our  prisoners 
had  marched  but  a  short  distance  with  their  captors,  when, 
on  ascending  to  the  summit  of  a  hill,  they  discovered  the 
Union  batteries  not  a  mile  distant.  These  soon  opened  upon 
the  rebels  and  prisoners,  but  at  such  range  as  to  do  no  mate 
rial  damage  to  either.  It  was  indeed  painful  to  our  men  to  be 
thus  fired  upon  by  their  own  men. 

It  was  now  nearly  dark,  and  immediately  in  front  of  the 
rebels,  and  not  more  than  fifteen  rods  distant  was  the  Union 
line  of  battle.  The  battle  was  raging  with  terrific  fury. 
Such  fighting  is  seldom  witnessed  on  any  field.  Each  party 
seemed  to  consider  this  the  crisis,  and  fought  with  desperation. 
In  the  midst  of  it  a  panic  seized  the  rebels.  Their  wounded 
poured  in  from  the  front  in  great  numbers ;  the  artillery 
rushed  to  the  rear,  and  for  a  time  all  was  confusion  in  that 
portion  of  the  line  occupied  by  our  prisoners.  Had  General 


CAPTURE  OF  OUR  SKIRMISHEES.  289 

Grant  known  what  our  skirmishers  then  saw,  he  would  have 
followed  up  the  advantage,  and  taking  possession  of  the  Par 
ker  Store  road,  separated  the  forces  of  Lee,  and  made  the 
victory  of  the  Wilderness  complete  the  first  day.  Our  skir 
mishers  though  prisioners  were  now  elated  at  the  thought  of  a 
Union  victory.  They  anticipated  a  general  panic,  during 
which  they  would  escape  to  our  lines.  But  unfortunately 
at  this  point  night  set  in  and  the  firing  ceased.  Two  hours 
afterwards  our  skirmishers  were  on  the  march  to  Lee's  head 
quarters,  at  Parker's  Store. 

The  following  officers  of  the  Seventy-sixth  were  captured 
at  this  time : 

Company  B — Captain  J.  D.  Clyde,  First  Lieutenant  Wil 
liam  Cahill,  Second  Lieutenant  James  Casler. 

Company  F — First  Lieutenant  William  Buchanan,  Second 
Lieutenant  William  H.  Myers. 

Company  K — Captain  E.  J.  Swan,  First  Lieutenant  Homer 
D.  Call,  Second  Lieutenant  Job  Norwood. 

As  the  Kegiment  fell  back,  pursuant  to  the  orders  of  Gen 
eral  Wadsworth,  Major  Young  not  falling  back  as  readily  as 
the  men,  was  left  in  the  enemy's  lines.  He  was  approached 
by  a  rebel  soldier,  who  shouted : —  t 

"  Halt !  you  are  my  prisoner." 

The  Major,  not  relishing  the  order,  nor  considering  it  from 
his  superior,  started  in  the  direction  of  our  lines. 

"  Halt  I  or  I'll  blow  your  d d  brains  out !"  shouted  the 

rebel,  while  the  Major  heard  the  click  of  the  lock,  as  the  rebel 
aimed  at  his  head.  The  Major  surrendered,  and  paid  for  his 
obedience  by  nearly  a  year  in  the  prison  pens  of  the  South. 

At  the  time  of  the  capture  of  Major  Young,  he  was  accom 
panied  by  James  Cinnamon,  of  Company  D.  Seeing  the 
Major  surrender,  Cinnamon  started  on  double-quick  for  our 
lines. 


290  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

"  Halt !"  sliouted  the  Major's  captor,  but  Cinnamon  kept 
on.  The  sharp  crack  of  a  rifle  was  heard ;  the  ball  passed 
through  Cinnamon's  cap,  but  he  escaped  unhurt,  and  soon 
after  joined  the  Regiment. 

In  this  battle,  Company  D  was  the  color  company.  In 
the  sharp  engagement  previous  to  falling  back,  two  of  the 
color-bearers  fell  wounded.  The  colors  were  then  taken  by  Al 
bert  Hilton,  of  Company  A,  who  soon  fell  dead  upon  them. 
Captain  S.  M.  Byram,  commanding  Company  D,  seized  the 
colors,  and  drawing  them  from  beneath  poor  Hilton,  carried 
them  safely  off  the  field.  As  the  Captain  came  into  the  open 
field,  he  became  an  object  of  special  interest  to  the  rebels, 
who  fired  several  volleys  at  him,  but  he  escaped  unharmed. 

The  other  color  was  brought  off  by  George  Hawley,  of 
Company  D,  who,  for  his  bravery,  was  immediately  desig 
nated  as  color-sergeant ;  but  his  office  was  of  short  duration, 
for  he  was  killed  the  next  day.  After  Hawley  was  killed, 
Rutger  B.  Marsh  took  the  colors,  but  fell  wounded,  when 
James  Cinnamon  took  them  and  carried  them  safely  through. 

The  Regiment  had  suffered  severely  in  this  action.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Cook  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  Major  Young 
taken  prisoner,  and  many  others  killed  and  wounded.  The 
command  of  the  Regiment  now  devolved  upon  Captain 
Byram. 

At  six  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  Brigade,  under  command  of  Gen 
eral  Rice,  moved  to  the  support  of  the  Second  Corps,  then 
engaged  with  the  enemy  on  the  Orange  Court  House  and 
Fredericksburg  plank  road,  about  one  mile  in  advance  of  the 
crossing  of  the  Brock  Road,  and  about  three  miles  distant 
from  where  the  Division  had  reformed.  The  route  lay 
through  a  dense  wood  in  many  places  impenetrable.  It  was 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  the  Brigade  found  itself  in 
position,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  plank  road,  and 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  N.  Y.  AND  FIFTY-SIXTH  PA.      291 

facing  it.  The  men  were  permitted  to  lie  on  their  arms  until 
four  o'clock  the  next  morning,  when  General  Rice  directed 
the  Ninety-fifth  New  York,  and  part  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-seventh  New  York  to  be  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
and  moved  forward.  The  position  now  held  by  the  Brigade 
was  the  extreme  right  of  our  lines.  The  enemy  succeeded  in 
bringing  a  battery  to  bear,  enfilading  our  forces  from  the  right 
flank.  The  two  right  Regiments,  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York 
and  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  changed  front  to  the  rear  on 
the  left  company,  and  opened  fire  upon  the  skirmishers,  now 
advanced  to  the  crest  of  the  hill  about  three  hundred  yards 
distant,  and  drove  them  back.  General  Rice  directed  Colo 
nel  Hofmann,  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  to  select  two 
regiments  and  take  the  battery.  He  chose  his  Regiment,  and 
the  remains  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  saying  : — "  If  any  two  reg 
iments  can  take  it,  they  can." 

These  Regiments  were  then  moved  forward,  and  to  the  right, 
screened  by  a  wood,  to  a  point  nearly  on  a  line  with  the  bat 
tery,  with  the  intention  of  taking  it  with  the  bayonet.  They 
captured  the  skirmishers  thrown  out  to  protect  the  flanks  of 
the  battery,  but  when  the  detachment  arrived  within  one  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  edge  of  the  wood,  the  movement  was 
discovered  by  the  enemy,  the  battery  was  limbered  up  and 
hastily  driven  to  the  rear  about  four  hundred  yards,  where 
it  again  opened  with  spherical  case,  and  forced  the  detach 
ment  back. 

The  enemy,  at  eight  A.  M.,  came  forward  in  strong  force, 
and  pressed  our  lines  back  for  nearly  half  a  mile,  but  was  in 
turn  compelled  to  fall  back  to  his  former  position. 

At  eleven  A.  M.  the  Brigade  formed  in  line  of  battle  at  a 
right  angle  with  the  plank  road.  The  firing  had  ceased 
for  nearly  an  hour,  except  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters. 

At  noon  the  enemy  again  came  forward  in  great  force  on 


292  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

the  left  of  the  plank  road.  General  Wadsworth  who  was 
present  with  the  Second  Brigade,  ordered  it  to  change  front, 
forming  the  line  on  the  right  of  the  plank  road,  and  parallel 
with  it.  He  stated  at  the  time,  that  the  object  of  the  move 
ment  was  to  take  in  flank  the  enemy  as  he  came  forward. 
The  right  flank  of  the  Brigade  was  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy's  battery,  and  sharpshooters  posted  on  the  hill  beyond 
our  right,  and  suffered  severely.  This,  with  the  impetuosity 
with  which  the  enemy  came  forward,  broke  our  lines,  and  the 
troops  were  forced  back  in  confusion.  The  ground  over  which 
they  moved  offered  no  favorable  opportunity  for  rallying  the 
men  for  the  first  half  mile.  Coming,  at  length,  to  a  slight 
elevation,  an  effort  was  made  to  rally.  This  was  only 
partially  successful,  and  they  retired  as  far  back  as  the  Brock 
Road,  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  plank  road.  The 
Brigade  had  again  suffered  severely  in  killed,  wounded  and 
prisoners. 

It  was  while  immediately  in  rear  of  the  center  of  this 
Brigade,  that  General  Wadsworth  was  killed  in  the  act  of 
cheering  the  men  on.  The  loss  of  no  officer  in  the  army 
would  have  been  felt  more  keenly.  Leaving  a  home  of  luxury 
and  ease  for  the  hardship  and  privations  of  camp,  and  the 
dangers  of  the  field,  he  died  as  the  true  soldier  ever  desires  to 
die — in  the  line  of  his  duty,  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  with 
his  face  to  the  foe — a  worthy  offering  on  the  altar  of  the 
country  he  died  to  save.  Just  previous  to  his  death,  General 
Wadsworth  shouted  to  the  men : — 

"  Forward,  men  !     We'll  take  a  thousand  prisoners  now  1" 
Alas !  for  the  frailty  of  human  hopes ! 

About  the  time  that  General  Wadsworth  fell,  Hubert  Car 
penter,  the  Adjutant  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  fell  mortally 
wounded,  and  died  the  next  day.  He  was  an  excellent  officer. 


BOLD  ATTACK  ON  THE  ENEMY.  293 

During  the  battle,  Captain  Norman  G.  Bartholomew,  of 
Company  E,  fell  mortally  wounded.  He  was  taken  to  the 
hospital  and  soon  after  died.  We  have  had  occasion  in  a 
former  chapter  to  speak  of  his  soldierly  conduct. 

General  Rice  now  directed  Colonel  Hofmann  to  reform  the 
Brigade,  and  collecting  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Division 
that  were  in  that  vicinity,  to  form  the  line  in  rear  of  the 
Brock  Road,  the  left  of  the  line  resting  on  the  plank  road; 

At  four  P.  M.  the  Brigade  consisted  of  detachments  from 
the  Seventy-sixth,  Ninety-fifth,  and  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-seventh  New  York,  the  Fifty-sixth,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-second,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third,  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-ninth,  and  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  company  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  Volunteers.  Most  of 
the  detachments  had  their  regimental  colors  with  them,  and 
so  severe  had  been  the  losses  that  the  whole  eight  regiments 
and  one  company  formed  an  aggregate,  at  that  hour,  of  but 
four  hundred  and  eight — less  than  half  a  regiment ! 

At  half-past  five  P.  M.,  the  enemy  again  came  forward  on 
the  left  of  the  plank  road,  and  succeeded  in  forcing  a  portion 
of  our  troops  back  from  the  line  of  works  erected  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Brock  Road,  by  the  Second  Corps,  and  planting 
the  rebel  colors  upon  the  works.  General  Hancock,  through 
General  Rice,  directed  Colonel  Hofmann  to  move  his  Brigade 
to  the  support  of  the  troops  at  the  works.  The  Brigade  was 
moved  out  rapidly  by  the  right  flank,  and  when  the  head  of 
the  column  arrived  at  the  point  of  the  works  where  they  had 
been  vacated  by  our  troops,  it  formed  in  line  of  battle  at 
nearly  a  right  angle  with  the  works,  the  men  firing  as  fast  as 
they  came  into  line.  In  the  course  of  ten  minutes  the  enemy 
were  driven  from  the  works,  and  back  into  the  woods  from 
which  they  had  emerged.  Several  hundred  men  now  sprang 
over  the  works,  and  desired  to  follow  up  the  enemy.  Colonel 


294:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  V, 

Ilofmann,  being  uninformed  as  to  whether  they  could  be  sup 
ported  or  not,  felt  it  his  duty  to  recall  them.  He  then 
reported  his  action  to  General  Hancock,  who  approved  it. 

At  eight  P.  M.  the  Brigade  was  relieved  and  ordered  into 
the  second  line  of  works,  and  at  half-past  three  A.  M.,  of  the 
seventh,  again  moved  into  the  front  line.  At  seven  A.  M.,  it 
was  marched  three-fourths  of  a  mile  to  the  left,  and  erected 
new  works.  At  eleven  A.  M.,  it  was  ordered  to  rejoin  the 
Division  then  on  the  right,  and  half  a  mile  beyond  the  road. 
General  Rice,  who  had  had  a  special  command,  now  returned 
and  assumed  command  of  the  Brigade. 

At  four  P.  M.,  the  Brigade  moved  to  the  Lacy  House,  and 
at  ten  P.  M.  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Spottsylvania. 
The  Brigade  was  now  joined  by  the  Fourteenth  Brooklyn. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Union  Army,  at  the  Wilderness, 
would  have  been  considered  by  many  generals,  defeated.  Gen 
eral  Grant,  however,  was  possessed  of  the  gift  of  not  seeing,  or 
not  heeding  a  Union  defeat.  Hence  the  movement  continued. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

BAT  TLE  OF  SPOTTSYLVANIA— GENERAL  KICB  KILLED—"  TURN  ME  WITH  MY  FACE  TO 
THE  ENEMY"— "THIS  is  AN  UNHEALTHY  COUNTRY,  CAPTAIN  !"— CONTINUOUS  NIGHT 
FIRING — TERRIBLE  SLAUGHTER— APPEARANCE  OP  THE  GROUND  THJ  NEXT  MORNING 
—A  CAMP  OF  DEAD  HEROES— BATTLE  AT  THE  NORTH  ANNA— ON  THE  PLANTATION 
OF  PATRICK  HENRY— BATTLE  NEAR  BETHESDA  CHURCH— CAPTAIN  GODDARD  AND 
LIEUTENANT  BALDWIN  WOUNDED— LOSSES  IN  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH— MARCH  TO  THE 
CHICKAHOMINY— DESERTED  VILLAGES. 

May  Sth,  1864. — After  marching  all  night,  the  Brigade  to 
which  the  Seventy-sixth  was  attached,  arrived  at  Todd's 
Tavern.  Halting  here  for  breakfast,  they  again  moved  for 
ward  and  met  the  enemy  at  Laurel  Hill. 

General  Rice  directed  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  and 
Ninety-fifth  New  York  to  move  forward  and  clear  the  enemy 
from  an  orchard  that  he  then  occupied,  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  road.  These  Regiments  cleared  the  field,  but  were  found 
inadequate  to  hold  it,  and  the  Seventy-sixth  and  One  Hun 
dred  and  Forty-seventy  New  York  Volunteers,  and  Fourteenth 
Brooklyn  were  sent  up  to  their  support.  Subsequently  they 
were  relieved  by  troops  from  another  Division,  and  the  Brigade 
moved  in  rear  of  a  ridge,  where  it  remained  until  five  P. 
M.,  when  it  again  moved  forward,  and  to  the  right  of  the 
orchard.  Here  breastworks  were  erected  and  occupied  until 
two  P.  M.  on  the  tenth.  At  that  time  the  Brigade  under 
General  Rice  moved  forward  to  attack  the  works  of  the 
enemy,  then  about  six  hundred  yards  in  front.  The  attack 


296  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

failed,  and  the  Brigade  returned  to  a  position  nearly  in  rear 
of  that  which  they  had  previously  occupied.  In  this  charge 
General  Rice  was  mortally  wounded.  After  his  limb  was 
amputated  he  was  asked  by  the  attending  surgeon  which  way 
he  desired  to  be  turned  that  he  might  rest  more  easy. 

"  Turn  my  face  to  the  enemy,"  said  the  dying  hero.  These 
were  his  last  words,  and  indicated  the  true  character  of  the 
man,  the  soldier  and  the  patriot.  General  Rice  was  the  third 
general  who  had  been  killed  in  less  than  a  year,  while  leading 
the  Seventy-sixth.  Reynolds,  Wadsworth,  Rice  !  They  are 
enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  every  remaining  member  of  the 
Regiment. 

Colonel  Fowler  being  the  ranking  officer,  now  assumed 
command  of  the  Brigade. 

On  the  evening  of  the  eleventh,  the  Brigade  again  moved 
to  the  attack  on  the  enemy's  works.  After  having  been  in 
line  of  battle  half  an  hour,  subjected  to  a  severe  flank  fire 
from  the  left,  the  Brigade  was  withdrawn,  the  attack  having 
been  suspended.  A  considerable  loss  was  sustained  in  killed 
and  wounded. 

During  the  fighting,  Lieutenant  Cochran  was  lighting  his 
pipe  when  a  ball  struck  the  fire  brand,  knocking  it  out  of  his 
hand,  then  coming  in  contact  with  his  breast,  knocked  him 
down.  Arising,  he  coolly  remarked  to  Captain  Byram : — 

"  This  is  an  unhealthy  country,  Captain.  I  believe  I'll  go 
to  the  rear." 

"  Halloa,  Cochrane,"  said  the  Captain,  two  days  afterward ; 
"  I  thought  you  had  gone  to  the  rear,  wounded." 

"I'm  cured,  Captain — can't  stay  there.  It  is  quite  too 
lonesome  away  from  the  Regiment." 

At  eight  A.  M.  on  the  twelfth,  the  Brigade  again  advanced 
to  the  attack.  After  moving  about  four  hundred  yards,  and 
at  the  front  of  a  ravine,  the  underbrush  was  of  such  a 


NIGHT  FIGHTING.  297 

character  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  push  the  line  through 
it,  and  as  the  troops  upon  the  right  encountered  the  same  dif 
ficulty,  and  were  unable  to  move  forward,  the  Brigade  was 
withdrawn.  At  one  P.  M.  it  was  marched  to  the  left  nearly 
two  miles  to  a  point  where  a  portion  of  the  Second  Corps  had 
captured  the  works  of  the  enemy,  but  had  subsequently  aban 
doned  them.  The  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-seventh  JSTew  York,  and  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  were 
ordered  to  form  a  column  to  attack  the  works,  but  before  the 
column  was  formed  the  order  was  suspended. 

The  Brigade  was  then  moved  to  a  point  of  the  works  where 
they  were  cleared  of  the  enemy,  and  formed  in  line  nearly  at 
right  angles  with  the  works,  the  left  resting  on  them.  In  this 
position  they  were  directed  to  fire  continuously  to  prevent  the 
enemy  who  occupied  the  opposite  side  of  the  breastworks  from 
firing  or  sallying  out.  The  Brigade  continued  this  firing. from 
three  P.  M.  until  two  A.  M.  on  the  thirteenth,  when  they 
were  relieved  and  movred  to  the  rear.  The  loss  sustained  in 
this  firing  was  small,  the  troops  being  sheltered  by  the  parapet 
of  the  enemy's  works,  and  a  depression  of  the  ground  in  front 
of  them. 

Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  severity  of  this  night 
battle,  from  the  ghastly  sight  presented  the  next  morning. 
While  thus  engaged,  this  one  Brigade  fired  about  ten  thou 
sand  rounds.  The  enemy  made  many  efforts  to  fire,  but  there 
is  every  reason  to  believe  that  those  who  made  the  attempt 
were  generally  killed,  as  the  following  morning,  (the  enemy 
having  withdrawn  before  daylight),  the  pits  were  found  filled 
with  rebel  dead.  In  one  pit  not  over  fifty  feet  in  length,  were 
counted  thirty  dead,  beneath  and  mingled  with  which,  were 
several  too  severely  wounded  to  get  off  the  field.  Horses  lay 
strewn  over  the  ground,  literally  cut  to  pieces  by  bullets. 
One  green  oak  tree,  from  fifteen  to  twenty  inches  in  diameter 


298  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIHENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

and  standing  in  range  of  our  guns,  was  actually  cut  off  by 
bullets,  and  fell  during  the  night. 

Several  caissons  in  the  vicinity  of  the  rebel  troops,  were  left 
on  the  ground  on  their  retreat,  because  the  spokes  of  the 
wheels  were  so  cut  by  our  fire  that  they  could  not  be  moved. 

!Nor  had  our  army  escaped  injury.  As  the  Second  Brigade 
arrived  on  the  field,  they  saw  the  ground  covered  for  some 
distance  with  men  lying  upon  the  ground,  and  covered  with 
tents. 

"  Why  are  these  fellows  taking  their  ease,  while  we  go  in  ?" 
was  asked  by  more  than  one  of  our  officers. 

"  How  cool  they  take  it  under  this  fire,"  remarked  another. 

"  I'll  learn  the  cause  from  them,"  said  Lieutenant  Edgcomb, 
stepping  in  the  direction  of  the  men  in  the  supposed  bivouac. 

"  Get  up,  here,"  said  Lieutenant  "Waterman,  kicking  one  of 
the  men.  "  You  can't  play  'possum  on  us.  Come,  go  in  with 
us!" 

"  I  guess  you  won't  raise  that  man,"  said  Sergeant  Miles 
Foster. 

On  examination  it  was  found  the  man  was  dead,  and  this 
field  of  tents  but  covered  a  bivouac  of  heroic  dead  ! 

At  nine  A.  M.  on  the  thirteenth,  the  Brigade  marched  to 
the  right  a  distance  of  two  miles,  and  at  ten  o'clock  that  night 
moved  to  the  left,  over  a  very  muddy  road.  At  daylight  it 
arrived  within  three-fourths  of  a  mile  of  Spottsylvania  Court 
House.  It  was  subsequently  moved  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
further  forward,  and  threw  up  breastworks. 

The  time  of  service  of  the  Fourteenth  Brooklyn,  Colonel 
Fowler,  having  expired,  that  Regiment  was  detailed  for  special 
duty,  and  Colonel  Hofmann,  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania, 
assumed  command  of  the  Second  Brigade. 

At  eight  P.  M.  the  Brigade  encamped  at  Catlett's  House, 
near  Guiness  Station  on  the  Eichmond  and  Fredericksburg 


BATTLE  OF  NORTH  ANNA.  299 

Kailroad.     Moved  at  ten  A.  M.  on  the  twenty-third,  and  bivou 
acked  at  Bull's  Church. 

May  twenty-fourth  the  Brigade  moved  at  five  A.  M.,  and 
halted  at  Campbell's  Church.  Repassing  the  church  at  two 
P.  M.,  it  forded  the  North  Anna  River  at  Jericho  Bridge. 

As  our  forces  approached  the  North  Anna  the  rebels  were 
retreating,  and  so  near  were  they  that  prisoners  afterwards 
taken  declared  they  could  hear  our  drums  in  camp  so  plainly 
as  to  distinguish  the  different  tunes  played.  The  rebels  under 
Longstreet  disputed  the  passage  of  the  river.  A  force  was 
left  at  the  ford  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  while 
the  remainder  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  including  the  Seventy-sixth, 
moved  to  a  point  about  half  a  mile  further  up  the  river. 
Here  they  came  to  a  piece  of  wood,  through  which  ran  a  road 
to  the  river.  A  pontoon  bridge  was  laid,  but  before  it 
was  completed  the  men  became  so  anxious  to  cross  that  they 
jumped  into  the  river  and  waded  across.  The  Brigade  was 
formed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  heights  about  half  a  mile  above 
the  ford.  The  Ninety-fifth  New  York  was  deployed  as  skir 
mishers. 

At  half-past  six  P.  M.  the  enemy  attacked  our  front  line  of 
troops  then  occupying  the  woods.  The  Second  Brigade  was 
moved  to  the  front  and  to  the  right  near  the  skirmish  line,  and 
formed  in  line  of  battle  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in 
rear  of  it.  The  enemy  now  charged  through  the  woods,  send 
ing  up  cheer  after  cheer,  accompanied  by  unearthly  yells. 
The  brigade  in  front  broke  and  passed  around  our  left  flank. 
The  Second  Brigade,  under  a  heavy  musketry  fire,  changed 
front  to  the  rear  on  the  left  battalion,  and  formed  a  new  line. 
This  was  necessary  to  enable  Captain  Mink's  battery,  which 
had  been  brought  up  and  was  occupying  the  ground  between 
our  right  and  the  river,  to  open  fire.  Another  battery  was 
brought  up  on  the  right  of  Captain  Mink's.  The  enemy 


300  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

made  several  attempts  to  charge  from  the  woods,'  but  failed 
and  was  each  time  driven  back  with  severe  loss.  They  kept 
up  a  heavy  fire  from  their  skirmish  line  for  over  an  hour,  when 
the  firing  on  both  sides  ceased. 

Captain  C.  A.  Watkins,  of  Company  K,  Seventy-sixth  Reg 
iment,  then  threw  out  a  line  of  skirmishers  very  rapidly,  and 
succeeded  in  capturing  over  one  hundred  prisoners,  who  rep 
resented  that  they  belonged  to  Lane's,  Cook's,  and  Scale's 
Brigades  of  Heath's  and  "Wilcox's  Divisions.  The  line  was 
then  moved  forward,  and  the  works  held  until  five  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  May  twenty-fifth.  In  his  report  of  this  engage 
ment,  Colonel  Hofmann  says : — • 

"  In  this  action  the  officers  and  men  behaved  splendidly.  I  think  to 
them  is  due  the  credit  of  saving  the  artillery  from  being  cut  off,  and  in  all 
probability  saving  the  army  from  a  terrible  disaster." 

The  Seventy-sixth  was  commanded  in  this  battle  by  Captain 
S.  M.  Byram,  of  Company  D. 

May  twenty-fifth  the  Brigade  moved  down  the  right  bank 
of  the  river  several  miles,  then  moving  to  the  right  into  a  wood, 
formed  into  line  of  battle  and  erected  breat works.  During 
the  day  a  heavy  loss  was  sustained  on  the  skirmish  line,  sev 
eral  being  killed  and  many  wounded. 

May  twenty-sixth  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  Brigade 
recrossed  the  North  Anna  at  Quarter's  Mills,  and  moved  on 
the  Pamunky  River. 

May  twenty-seventh  the  march  was  continued  to  Mongo- 
luck,  where  the  Brigade  bivouacked  for  the  night.  At  half- 
past  seven  the  next  morning  the  Regiment  crossed  the 
Pamunkey  on  pontoons,  at  Hanover  Town,  and  erected  works 
on  the  heights  two  miles  beyond  the  river. 

May  twenty-ninth,  moved  to  near  Tolopotomoy  Creek,  and 
formed  a  line  of  battle  on  the  plantation  formerly  owned  by 
Patrick  Henry.  A  great  change  had  come  over  the  people 


THE  PLANTATION  OF  PATRICK:  HENRY.  301 

with  whom  he  was  accustomed  to  mingle,  as  well  as  the  plan 
tation  which  he  occupied,  since  he  enunciated  those  doctrines 
of  political  faith,  to  uphold  which  this  visit  of  the  sons  of 
Freedom  was  made. 

This  ground  was  held  until  the  next  morning,  when  the 
Brigade,  having  been  increased  by  the  addition  of  the  Third 
Delaware  Volunteers,  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  men,  and 
the  Forty-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  one  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  men,  moved  to  within  one  mile  of  Bethesda  church,  and 
was  sent  to  support  a  brigade  of  the*  Third  Division  of  this 
Corps.  Scarcely  had  the  Second  Brigade  got  into  position, 
when  the  enemy  made  a  heavy  attack  upon  our  lines,  princi 
pally  to  the  right  of  this  Brigade.  He  was  driven  back  with 
heavy  loss  of  killed  and  wounded. 

The  ground  was  held  until  ten  A.  M.  of  the  thirty-first, 
when  the  Brigade  moved  half  a  mile  forward.  At  seven  P. 
M.  it  was  marched  to  the  right  of  the  Corps  line  to  relieve  the 
brigade  of  General  Bartlett.  It  occupied  the  works  of  that 
Brigade,  and  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  until  midnight, 
when  it  was  relieved  and  moved  to  the  left  of  the  Mechanics- 
ville  road,  about  half  a  mile  in  front  of  Bethesda  church. 
The  instructions  were  to  connect  with  the  First  Brigade,  and 
extend  the  line  to  the  road.  This  was  found  to  be  a  difficult 
task,  owing  to  the  dense  thicket  through  which  it  was 
necessary  to  move  the  troops. 

This  forming  a  line  between  midnight  and  daylight,  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy,  is  not  a  pleasant  task  under  more  favorable 
circumstances  ;  but  orders  must  be  obeyed. 

The  One  hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  Pennsylvania  Volun 
teers,  numbering  one  hundred  and  ninety-three  men,  was  here 
added  to  the  Brigade. 

At  five  o'clock  P.  M.,  June  second,  the  enemy  attacked 
our  right,  which  was  forced  back  on  new  works,  thrown  up  at 


302  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

nearly  right  angles  with  the  former  line.  A  portion  of  the 
old  line  of  works  was  occupied  by  the  enemy.  In  this  attack 
Colonel  Pye,  of  the  Ninety-fifth  New  York  Volunteers,  was 
mortally  wounded.  The  Brigade  remained  in  the  new  works 
until  ten  P.  M.,  on  the  fifth  of  June,  meeting  with  considera 
ble  loss  from  the  sharpshooters  of  the  enemy.  Captain 
Goddard,  commanding  the  Seventy-sixth,  was  severely 
wounded.  Lieutenant  Baldwin  was  also  wounded,  and  Ser 
geants  Comstock,  of  Company  E,  and  Snow,  of  Company  C, 
killed.  As  Comstock  was  borne  past  the  Regiment  on  a 
stretcher,  he  shouted  : — 

"  Good  bye,  Seventy-sixth — this  is  the  last  of  Dolph !" 
At  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  fifth  of  June,  the 
Brigade  moved  toward  Cold  Harbor,  where  it  arrived  at  four 
o'clock  the  next  morning.  The  Fourth  Delaware  Volunteers, 
numbering  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  men  was  assigned  to 
the  Second  Brigade,  and  reported  for  duty. 

Here  the  troops  remained  in  bivouac  until  eight  A.  M.  on 
the  seventh,  when  they  moved  to  the  Chickahominy,  halting 
within  one  mile  of  Summer's  Bridge.  Colonel  Hofmann,  in 
command  of  the  Second  Brigade,  was  then  ordered  to  march 
and  take  possession  of  the  railroad  bridge  crossing  the  Chick 
ahominy.  To  screen  the  movement  from  the  enemy,  the 
march  was  made  by  a  circuitous  route  through  the  woods, 
to  a  point  half  a  mile  west  of  Despatch  Station.  The 
enemy  had  works  three-fourths  of  a  mile  beyond  the  bridge, 
that  commanded  the  railroad  for  two  miles.  A  screen  of 
brush  was  constructed  across  the  railroad,  and  two  regiments 
passed  in  rear  of  it  to  the  opposite  side.  A  heavy  skir 
mish  line  was  then  thrown  out  on  both  sides  of  the  railroad, 
the  enemy  driven  across  the  river,  and  possession  taken  of  the 
east  end  of  the  bridge.  A  line  of  battle  was  formed  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear,  and  pickets  posted  on  the  river, 


CHICKAHOMINY  TO  THE  JAMES.  303 

connecting  with  the  First  Brigade  on  the  right,  the  left 
extending  down  the  river. 

In  driving  the  enemy  back,  the  casualties  to  the  Brigade 
were  five  wounded. 

In  the  afternoon  the  enemy  opened  with  shot  and  shell  upon 
the  screen  across  the  railroad,  supposing  our  troops  were  at 
work  behind  it.  No  loss  was  sustained,  however,  except  the 
partial  demolition  of  the  brush  screen.  The  Brigade  re 
mained  in  this  position  until  ten  P.  M.  on  the  twelfth,  then 
moved  to  the  left,  and  crossed  the  Chickahominy  on  pontoons 
at  Long  Bridge,  at  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  thir 
teenth.  Here  the  troops  remained  until  four  o'clock  P.  M., 
when  they  moved  to  near  "Wilcox's  landing  on  the  James 
River. 

On  this  day  the  Regimental  Quartermaster,  Lieutenant 
Burnham,  visited  St.  Peter's  church,  where  "Washington  was 
married.  Here  lie  buried  the  dead  of  a  century  and  a  half 
ago.  The  Lieutenant  has  preserved  a  copy  of  an  inscription 
upon  one  of  the  tombstones : 

"  Here  lyetlie  the  body  of  Ann  Clopton,  wife  of  William  Clopton,  of  the 
County  of  New  Kent.  She  departed  this  life  on  ye  4th  day  of  March,  A. 
D.  1716,  in  the  70th  year  of  her  age.  She  left  two  sons  and  four  daughters, 
viz :"  (naming  them). 

The  country  from  the  Chickahominy  to  the  James  was  in 
deed  beautiful,  though  the  fiery  hand  of  war  had  sadly 
desolated  it.  Though  naturally  very  productive,  so  thoroughly 
had  it  been  stripped  and  despoiled  by  both  armies,  that 
scarcely  anything  was  raised,  and  prices  of  provisions  were 
almost  fabulous. 

New  Kent  Court  House,  Charles  City  Court  House,  and  all 
the  villages  on  the  route  were  deserted.  Not  even  a  negro, 
who,  like  the  owl,  usually  clings  to  the  deserted  village,  was 
seen  to  cast  a  shadow  of  blackness  over  the  solitude.  The 


304:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

people  had  taken  the  sword,  and  had  perished  or  been  driven 
out  by  it. 

The  troops  had  now  passed  over  the  field  where,  in  1862, 
McClellan  met  with  such  disastrous  defeat.  While  the  accom 
plishment  of  his  plan  consumed  fifty-seven  days  in  marching 
from  Fortress  Monroe,  aided  by  his  gunboats,  and  all  the  fa 
cilities  furnished  for  transportation,  General  Grant  had,  in 
forty  days,  without  any  of  these  advantages,  marched  to  the 
same  point  from  the  Rappahannock,  fighting  all  the  way  down. 
History  has  thus  most  emphatically  vindicated  President 
Lincoln's  choice  of  approaches  to  Richmond. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CROSSING  THE  JAMES  RIVER— FIGHTINQ  SOUTH  OF  THE  JAMES— CAPTAIN  BYRAM 
WOUNDED— BATTLE  AT  THE  WELDON  RAILROAD— LIEUTENANTS  PHENIS  AND  WELDON 
KILLED— CAPTAIN  HATCH  CAPTURES  A  REBEL  STAND  or  COLORS— THE  ENEMY  THROW 
DOWN  THEIR  ABMS— REPORT  OF  THE  BATTLE— DEATH  OF  D.  WEBSTER  SMITH— DAN 
GEROUS  SERVICE— CONSOLIDATION  OF  THE  FIRST  CORPS  INTO  ONE  DIVISION— VOTING 
IK  THE  ABMY. 

JUNE  sixteenth,  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  Seventy-sixth 
crossed  the  James  Eiver  on  a  steamboat,  landing  about  three 
miles  below  "Windmill  Point,  where  they  remained  until  two 
P.  M.,  when  the  march  was  continued  toward  Petersburg. 
Bivouacked  that  night  two  miles  beyond  Prince  George  Court 
House.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  now  mostly  south  of 
the  James.  The  objective  point  seemed  to  be  Petersburg, 
with  ultimate  designs  upon  Richmond. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  more  skillful  manoeuvring  has  ever 
characterized  the  movements  of  any  army,  than  that  of  Gen 
eral  Grant  in  his  march  to  this  place.  Actually  beaten  at  the 
Wilderness,  and  meeting  a  foe  too  strongly  entrenched  to  be 
driven  out  at  different  points,  by  his  persistent  fighting,  and 
those  remarkable  flank  movements,  by  which  he  always 
appeared  at  a  point  not  anticipated,  he  succeeded  in  finally 
placing  his  army  in  the  very  position  where  it  could  most 
surely  ultimately  accomplish  the  object  of  capturing  the  rebel 
capital  and  suppressing  the  rebellion. 

June  seventeenth,  the  Brigade  moved  about  two  miles  to  the 
u 


306  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

front,  and  found  the  enemy  posted  in  rear  of  a  strong  line  of 
works.  Here  they  formed  a  line  of  battle,  and  threw  up 
works  on  the  west  side  of  the  Blackwater  road.  The  enemy 
fired  upon  our  troops,  and  the  Brigade  sustained  a  loss  of  ten 
men  wounded. 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  eighteenth,  the  Brig 
ade  moved  forward  to  attack  the  enemy's  works.  Captain 
Byram  commanded  the  Seventy-sixth.  It  was  soon  ascer 
tained  that  the  enemy  had  withdrawn  during  the  night,  and 
that  he  had  also  abandoned  his  second  line  of  works.  Upon 
moving  forward  the  skirmish  line,  the  enemy  was  found 
posted  in  rear  of  his  third  line  of  works,  with  his  skirmishers 
thrown  forward  to  near  the  railroad.  The  Brigade  moved  to 
the  west  side  of  the  railroad,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle  in 
a  wood. 

At  three  o'clock  P.  M.  the  Brigade  was  formed  in  line  of 
battle  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  moved  forward  to  charge 
the  works  of  the  enemy,  then  about  seven  hundred  yards  in 
front  of  our  works.  Believing  that  the  final  blow  to  the  re 
bellion  was  about  to  be  struck,  the  line  moved  forward  with 
spirit.  The  enemy  immediately  opened  with  musketry  and 
spherical  case,  and  as  our  troops  approached  nearer,  with  can 
ister.  When  the  line  had  arrived  near  the  ravine,  the  loss  had 
already  been  very  great,  for  the  troops  were  exposed  to  a  fire 
not  only  in  front,  but  upon  both  flanks.  During  this  galling 
fire,  Captain  Byram  fell  severely  wounded,  and  never  did 
further  service.  The  command  of  the  Regiment  now  devolved 
upon  Captain  Hatch. 

As  the  line  was  descending  into  the  ravine  it  broke.  Many 
of  the  men  returned,  and  only  about  two  hundred  of  the 
Brigade  reached  the  opposite  slope,  where  they  found  shelter 
by  lying  on  the  ground.  The  horse  of  Colonel  Hofrnann,  the 
Brigade  commander,  was  killed  before  the  line  broke,  so  that 
he  did  not  reach  the  opposite  side  of  the  ravine. 


CONTINUED  FIGHTING.  SOT 

The  officers  now  rallied  the  men  in  rear  of  the  crest  from 
which  the  line  had  moved  when  the  charge  commenced. 
About  four  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  thus  formed  in  line. 
An  order  was  received  at  four  P.  M.,  to  prepare  for  a  second 
charge  at  half-past  five  P.  M.  This  was,  however,  subse 
quently  suspended.  The  troops  in  the  ravine  remained  until 
dark  when  they  were  withdrawn.  Pickets  were  now  thrown 
out,  a  line  of  battle  formed  and  advanced  to  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  and  breastworks  thrown  up.  The  wounded  were  brought 
in  and  the  dead  buried.  The  Brigade  and  Regiment  had  suf 
fered  a  very  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded. 

These  works  were  occupied  by  the  Brigade  until  July  thirty- 
first,  the  troops  every  three  days  relieved  and  relieving  in  turn 
the  First  Brigade  of  this  Division. 

Colonel  Hofmann,  in  his  report,  says  :— 

"During  the  campaign  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Brigade  have  evinced 
great  bravery,  patriotism  and  fortitude.  From  May  third  to  July  thirty- 
first,  a  period  of  nearly  ninety  days,  not  more  than  five  days  passed  that 
they  were  not  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy." 

The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  this  Brigade  during 
this  period,  was  eighty-four  officers,  and  fifteen  hundred  and 
fourteen  men. 

The  men  were  now  permitted  to  rest  until  the  eighteenth 
day  of  August.  Tlie  interim  was  occupied  chiefly  in  picket 
ing,  writing  and  receiving  letters,  and  the  performance  of 
those  other  duties  incident  to  camp  life. 

August  eighteenth,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
Brigade  left  camp  near  the  Jones  House,  and  moved  south 
over  the  Jerusalem  plank  road.  It  numbered  at  this  time, 
fifteen  hundred  and  seventy-one  officers  and  men,  and  arrived 
at  the  Yellow  House,  on  the  Petersburg  and  Weldon  Eailroad, 
at  noon.  The  heat  was  intense,  the  dust  almost  suffocating, 
and  the  march  so  fatiguing  that  only  about  half  the  men 


308  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  IN".  Y.  Y. 

arrived  with  the  Brigade.  By  three  P.  M.,  however,  most  of 
the  men  had  reported.  At  half-past  three  P.  M.,  the  Brigade 
was  moved  to  the  front  of  a  wood  about  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  Yellow  House,  and  deployed  in  line  of  battle,  the  left 
resting  on  the  Railroad  and  facing  the  north. 

At  four  P.  M.  the  Second  Brigade  was  detached  from  the 
Fourth  Division,  and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Ayres, 
commanding  the  Second  Division.  The  Brigade  soon  after 
relieved  General  Dushane's  Brigade,  stationed  on  the  left  of 
the  Railroad,  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy,  and  in  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes  drove  them  back.  A  picket  line  was  then 
established,  and  breastworks  erected. 

August  nineteenth,  at  four  P.  M.,  the  enemy  broke  through 
our  lines  about  half  a  mile  to  the  right  of  the  Brigade,  at  the 
same  time  attacking  the  line  in  front.  The  Seventy-sixth,  and 
other  Regiments  of  the  Brigade,  remained  in  the  works,  and 
repulsed  the  enemy  in  handsome  style.  During  this  engage 
ment,  Lieutenant  Barnard  Phenis,  of  Company  H,  was  killed. 
He  is  spoken  of  in  high  terms  by  his  fellow  officers. 

The  Brigade  was  moved  at  eight  P.  M.  on  the  twentieth, 
about  half  a  mile  to  the  rear,  to  a  crest  extending  south  from 
the  Blick  House,  and  running  parallel  with  and  about  a  fourth 
of  a  mile  west  of  the  Railroad.  Breastworks  were  erected 
during  the  night,  and  at  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning  the 
enemy  moved  forward  to  attack  oae..  works.  Their  line  of 
battle  emerged  from  the  woods  about  four  hundred  yards  in 
front,  and  moved  steadily  through  a  field  of  corn  to  within 
fifty  feet  of  the  works,  when  it  broke  and  the  men  fled  to  the 
woods.  They  had  suifered  very  severely  in  killed  and 
wounded. 

During  this  engagement,  Captain  Hatch,  of  Company  C, 
Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  captured  a  stand  of  colors  from  the 
enemy,  displaying  great  bravery  in  the  act. 


BATTLE  WELDON  KAILROAD.  309 

General  Hagood's  Brigade  of  the  enemy  passed  over  the 
field  to  the  left  of  our  works.  They  were  fired  upon  until 
they  had  arrived  at  a  point  a  little  in  our  rear,  when  Colonel 
llofmann  observed  that  a  number  of  them  had  thrown  away 
their  arms,  and  as  they  still  moved  forward  he  concluded  they 
intended  to  surrender,  and  ordered  the  firing  to  cease.  They 
halted  a  moment  in  the  ravine  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  in  rear,  and  to  the  left  of  our  works.  At  this  point 
about  half  of  them  attempted  to  retreat.  Fire  was  again 
opened  upon  them,  and  many  were  killed  and  wounded.  Of 
the  number  that  came  forward,  not  more  than  one-fourth  re 
gained  the  wood  from  which  they  had  emerged. 

The  Brigade  captured  two  Lieutenant-Colonels,  a  number 
of  line  officers,  and  nearly  three  hundred  prisoners.  On  the 
following  day  two  hundred  stand  of  arms  were  collected,  and 
fifty  of  the  enemy's  dead  buried  in  front  of  the  Brigade.  In 
his  official  report  of  this  battle,  Colonel  Hofmann,  says  :— 

"  The  Fifty-sixth  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  Pennsylvania  Vol 
unteers,  Seventy-sixth  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  Fourth  Delaware  Volunteers,  remained  hi  the  works  and 
repulsed  the  enemy  in  handsome  style.  ****** 

"  The  following  named  have  received  special  notice : — 
************* 

"  Seventy-sixth  New  York — Captain  Hatch,  for  gallantry  in  crossing  the 
works  and  capturing  a  stand  of  colors. 

"  Lieutenant  "VVeldon,  Seventy-sixth  New  York,  killed  on  the  picket  line, 
on  the  night  of  the  twenty-first,  is  spoken  of  as  having  been  ever  faithful 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duties — courteous  and  kind  in  his  intercourse  with 
his  brother  officers  and  men.  ******** 

"  Captain  Burritt  was  obliged  to  leave  the  field  of  battle  for  the  third 
time,  on  account  of  wounds  received.  ****** 

"  Captain  Walkins,  of  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York,  has  since  discharged 
the  duties  of  the  office,  and  rendered  very  efficient  services  on  the  twenty- 
first,  as  an  acting  aid-de-camp." 

The  casualties  to  this  Brigade  in  this  battle,  were  two  offi- 


310  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  "N.  Y.  Y. 

cers  and  twenty-three  men  killed,  eight  officers  and  ninety- 
seven  men  wounded,  and  sixty-eight  men  missing. 

There  is  so  much  sameness  in  camp  life,  that  it  is  difficult 
to  describe  the  events  of  each  day  interestingly.  During  the 
intervals  between  the  different  battles,  after  reaching  the 
south  side  of  the  James  "River,  our  men  were  continually  in 
the  advance,  with  the  enemy  confronting  them.  Scarcely  a 
day  passed  that  they  were  not  under  fire.  Most  of  the  time 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters  were  so  posted,  that  it  was  ex 
tremely  hazardous  for  our  men  to  appear  in  sight.  Did  a  man 
leave  the  breastworks,  he  was  sure  to  be  greeted  with  a  volley 
of  bullets.  Did  he  show  his  head  above  the  works,  he  imme 
diately  became  the  target  of  the  enemy.  This  sort  of  service 
was  much  more  annoying  than  actual  battle.  Lacking 
the  enthusiasm  and  excitement  of  battle,  it  was  full  as  dan 
gerous,  and  instead  of  lasting  a  few  hours,  continued  for 
months.  An  instance  occurring  in  the  Seventy-sixth  illus 
trates  : — 

D.  Webster  Smith,  of  Company  D,  was  on  picket  near 
Petersburg,  June  twenty-first,  186i.  Like  the  others,  he  had 
sought  in  a  ditch  protection  from  the  rebel  bullets.  He  had 
just  finished  a  letter  to  his  friends  at  home  and  loaded  his  gun, 
when,  on  rising,  he  was  fired  upon,  the  ball  taking  effect  in 
his  head,  killing  him  instantly. 

An  order  was  received  September  twelfth,  transferring 
all  the  Regiments  in  the  First  and  Second  Divisions, 
formerly  in  the  First  Corps,  to  the  Third  Division,  to  be  com 
manded  by  General  Crawford.  The  soldier  will  appreciate 
the  pleasant  emotions  of  the  men  at  this  reunion  of  the  frag 
ments  of  the  First  Corps  into  one  Division. 

During  this  lull  between  the  battles,  the  Seventh  Indiana 
Yolunteers  was  mustered  out,  and  the  remaining  fragments 
of  that  noble  Regiment  returned  home.  They  had  been  so 


VOTING  IN  THE  AKMY.  311 

closely  identified  with  the  Seventy-sixth  that  they  seemed  to 
almost  constitute  a  part  of  it.  Together  they  had  fought  side 
by  side,  emulating  but  not  envying  each  others  success,  until 
now  they  parted  like  twin  brothers. 

Reinforcements  were  now  daily  arriving  by  thousands,  and 
everything  indicated  that  General  Grant's  promise  to  "  fight 
it  out  on  this  line  "  was  to  be  fulfilled. 

October  1st.— The  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-fifth  New  York 
Volunteers,  commanded  by  Colonel  Jenny,  arrived  on  the 
field.  This  Regiment  was  raised  in  Onondaga  and  Cortland 
counties,  was  a  full  Regiment,  and  had  received  no  drill.  Un 
accustomed  to  camp  life,  their  introduction  was  rather 
discouraging.  A  severe  storm  came  up  ;  they  were  without 
tents,  had  not  yet  learned  the  science  of  drawing  comfort  from 
a  storm  while  lying  in  the  mud,  and  many  of  the  poor  fellows 
began  to  think  seriously  of  the  comforts  of  home.  The  Reg 
iment  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Corps  with  the  Seventy-sixth, 
and  hereafter  their  experiences  were  in  common. 

Colonel  Livingston,  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  who  was  absent 
some  time  on  special  duty,  in  Washington,  returned  to  the 
Regiment  and  assumed  command  October  fourteenth. 

October  %lst. — The  hosts  of  civilians  at  home  were  prepar 
ing  for  the  great  political  contest  which  should  determine 
whether  the  war  should  be  terminated  by  a  disgraceful  com 
promise,  or  whether  instead  thereof,  the  administration  which 
had  thus  far  struggled  to  suppress  the  rebellion,  should, 
on  the  eve  of  success,  be  permitted  to  gather  in  the  fruits  of 
its  patriotic  efforts.  The  vote  was  taken  in  the  field,  and  so 
unanimous  was  that  of  the  Seventy-sixth  in  favor  of  continu 
ing  the  administration  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  that  the  agent 
sent  by  the  McClellan  party  to  secure  votes,  was  compelled  to 
cover  his  defeat  with  the  false  charge  that  he  was  driven  from 
the  field  and  not  permitted  to  take  the  votes.  One  of  the 


312  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

proudest  evidences  of  the  wisdom  and  humanity  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  is  the  fact  that  the  soldiery,  taken  from  comfortable, 
and  many  from  luxurious  homes,  transferred  to  the  seat  of 
war,  making  forced  marches  at  night  through  mud  and  sleet, 
fighting  all  day  in  the  broiling  sun,  frequently  on  half  rations 
and  without  water,  and  long  periods  without  pay,  would  still, 
like  the  crusaders,  almost  consider  it  a  pleasure  to  die  for  the 
cause,  and  when  the  question  of  perpetuating  the  rule  of  their 
noble  leader  presented  itself,  they  almost  unanimously  voted 
in  the  affirmative.  With  such  a  leader,  and  such  man  to 
execute  his  commands,  no  republic  need  despair. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

ON  THE  MARCH— FIRST  HATCHER'S  RUN— DISTRIBUTING  CLOTHING— SAD  REMINISCENCES 
—THE  RE-ELECTION  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  IN  THE  ARMY—"  WORTH  MORE  TO  THE 
COUNTRY  THAN  A  VICTORY  WON  "— How  THE  REBELS  RELISHED  IT— FORT  HELL- THE 
TRUCE  TERMINATED— THANKSGIVING  AND  THE  NORTHERN  TURKEYS. 

THE  troops  were  not  long  permitted  to  rest,  even  in  the 
exposed  trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg.  General  Grant  had 
a  favorite  plan  of  attack  by  the  "  smoking-out  process."  An 
army  cannot  long  retain  its  position,  no  matter  how  strongly 
defended,  unless  it  can  procure  supplies.  General  Grant  now 
held  the  Weldon  Kailroad,  and  the  Eailroads  to  City  Point 
and  Norfolk,  and  was  continually  threatening  the  Kichmond 
and  Petersburg  road.  But  one  Kailroad  remained  to  supply 
the  rebel  forces  at  Petersburg  with  provisions  and  implements 
of  war.  This  the  commanding  general  determined  to  destroy, 
and  thus  accomplish  indirectly  what  might  at  least  be  consid 
ered  doubtful  if  attempted  by  direct  assault. 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-seventh  of 
October,  the  Seventy-sixth,  with  the  other  troops  of  the  Fifth 
Corps,  broke  camp,  and  marched  in  the  direction  of  Hatcher's 
Ran.  The  Regiment  was  at  that  time  attached  to  the  Third 
Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fifth  Corps.  It  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  Livingston,  and  mustered  but  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  muskets.  The  men  had  been  so  long  in  the  trenches 
that  the  change  of  scenery  and  the  varied  incidents  of  the 
march  gave  a  zest  to  the  movement,  so  that,  though  the  fasci- 


314:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGBIENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

nation  of  fighting  bad  long  since  passed,  the  men  actually 
anticipated  with  pleasure  anything  that  presented  a  change. 
They,  therefore,  rushed  forward  with  the  eagerness  of  troops 
marching  to  their  first  battle.  Crossed  Hatcher's  Run  at  Arm 
strong's  Mills.  The  report  of  Colonel  Hofmann,  command 
ing  the  Third  Brigade,  thus  describes  the  battle : — 

"  The  line  of  battle  was  then  formed,  facing  southwest,  the  right  of  the 
line  resting  on  the  creek.  The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New 
York  was  detailed  to  act  as  flankers.  The  instructions  were  to  follow  the 
Brigade  of  General  Bragg,  then  in  our  front,  to  move  parallel  with  and  our 
right  resting  on  the  creek.  After  moving  a  short  distance,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  change  the  direction  of  the  line  of  march  from  southwest  to 
northwest.  The  route  was  through  a  very  dense  wood,  and  it  was  with 
great  difficulty  that  even  an  approximation  to  an  alignment  could  be  pre 
served.  Permission  was  obtained  from  the  General  commanding  the 
Division,  to  move  by  the  right  flank  along  the  bank  of  the  creek.  After 
moving  in  this  manner  for  about  a  mile,  serious  doubts  arose  whether  or  no 
General  Bragg' s  Brigade  was  still  in  our  front.  The  scouts  sent  out  to  find 
it,  reported  their  inability  to  do  so.  As  it  was  impossible  to  see  far  ahead, 
the  head  of  the  column  was  then  covered  by  a  line  of  skirmishers.  After 
moving  a  short  distance,  the  Brigade  was  halted  and  again  formed  in  line 
of  battle,  and  a  line  of  skirmishers  thrown  forward.  Advancing  in  this 
manner  for  about  two  hundred  yards,  a  heavy  line  of  skirmishers  of  the 
enemy  was  met.  They  opened  fire  upon  us,  but  were  driven  across  the 
creek.  The  action  was  short  with  light  loss  to  us.  An  aid  from  General 
Bragg  arrived  with  directions  to  retire  to  where  his  Brigade  was  then  in 
line.  This  was  about  five  hundred  yards  in  our  rear.  We  had  passed  liia 
Brigade  whilst  we  were  marching  by  the  flank.  Before  the  order  to  retire 
could  be  executed  it  was  countermanded.  Subsequently  the  order  was  re 
newed  and  the  Brigade  moved  back.  It  was,  however,  in  the  course  of  an 
hour,  again  moved  forward  to  the  line  formerly  occupied,  and  threw  up  a 
light  line  of  works.  At  two  A.  M.  on  the  twenty-eighth,  the  Brigade  was, 
by  order  of  the  General  commanding  the  Division,  withdrawn  and  moved 
across  the  creek,  and  the  line  of  battle  formed  facing  nearly  southwest, 
near  the  Armstrong  House.  At  ten  A.  M.  the  Brigade  moved  to  Fort 
Cummings  and  thence  to  camp.  When  the  direction  of  the  line  of  march 
was  changed,  the  line  of  flankers  became  detached.  In  his  efforts  to  regain 
his  proper  position,  Colonel  Harney  became  lost ;  supposed  to  have  been 


THE  FIEST  HATCHER'S  RUN.  315 

captured  by  the  enemy.  *  *  *  The  number  of  prisoners  cap 
tured  by  my  command,  was  between  fifty  and  sixty.  The  exact  number  I 
am  unable  to  give,  as  they  were  at  once  turned  over  to  the  Provost  Marshal 
of  the  Division,  no  receipt  taken.  The  above  were  brought  in  by  Captain 
E.  Smack,  Ninety-fifth  New  York. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  WM.  HOFMANN, 
Colonel  Commanding  Brigade. 

Thus  terminated  the  first  Hatcher's  Run.  The  men  ex 
pected  and  were  fully  prepared  for  a  battle ;  but  no  general 
engagement  took  place.  The  rebels  were  found  in  too  strong 
force  for  an  attack  by  the  forces  employed,  and  no  general 
movement  of  the  army  having  been  made,  the  troops  returned 
to  their  camps.  The  Union  lines  were,  however,  extended. 
Our  forces  captured  seven  loaded  teams  at  Stony  Creek,  a 
dozen  beef  cattle,  a  portable  forge,  and  nine  hundred  and  ten 
men.  We  lost  no  men  captured,  except  a  few  stragglers.  The 
troops  were  scarcely  in  camp,  when  the  rebels  played  one  of 
those  sharp  tricks  incident  to  war. 

As  our  pickets  were  on  duty,  they  were  approached  by  a 
body  of  men,  supposed  by  them  to  be  a  relief.  They,  however, 
proved  to  be  a  body  of  rebels,  wrho,  taking  advantage  of  the 
illusion,  surrounded  our  pickets  and  took  them  all  prisoners. 
Several  soon  escaped  and  rushing  into  camp  gave  the  alarm, 
so  that  no  disastrous  results  followed. 

The  Seventy-sixth  now  occupied  a  lovely  camp,  and  soon 
the  men,  with  that  natural  instinct  which  leads  every  creature 
to  erect  a  home,  were  busily  engaged  in  building  log  huts  and 
erecting  their  tents.  In  a  few  days  what  was  so  lately  an 
open  field  and  dense  forest,  became  a  compactly  built  city  of 
log  houses,  with  their  Virginia  chimnies,  muddied  walls,  and 
furnished  with  fire-places,  cracker  box  tables,  cracker  box 
seats,  cracker  box  shelves,  and  beds  of  poles  and  green  boughs. 
Never  since  the  Regiment  entered  the  service,  had  it  occupied 


316  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEOIMKNT  N.  Y.  V. 

such  pleasant  quarters,  if  we  exclude  from  consideration  the 
dangerous  picket  and  guard  duties  which  alternately  devolved 
upon  them. 

The  weather  had  now  become  cold  and  rainy,  and  the 
men  who  had  fought  a  hundred  days  in  the  last  one  hundred 
and  fifty,  began  very  naturally  to  hope  they  were  now  build 
ing  their  winter  quarters. 

November  seventh,  the  clothing  of  the  Eegiment,  stored  in 
Alexandria  last  April  as  the  troops  wrere  about  to  advance, 
was  brought  to  camp  to  be  distributed  to  its  owners.  What 
painful  recollections  it  awakens !  Three  companies  now  lie 
in  southern  prisons,  while  large  numbers  of  the  men  lie  scat 
tered  along  in  Virginia's  accursed  soil,  from  the  Wilderness 
to  Petersburg.  The  God  of  war  had  rode  triumphantly  with 
the  Union  Army  over  this  sanguinary  road ;  but  death  and 
bloodshed,  and  captivity  had  lurked  in  every  thicket,  sadly 
thinning  the  loyal  ranks.  These  heroes  will  answer  to  no 
more  roll-calls  here ;  but  there  will  be  a  roll-call  hereafter 
where  they  shall  muster  to  receive  the  never-fading  wreaths 
of  the  true  and  faithful. 

Novemler  lO^A,  1864. — The  news  of  the  re-election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  reached  the  army  at  this  time.  Two  months 
and  a  half  ago  the  Union-loving  heart  was  pained  to  hear 
cheers  go  up  along  the  rebel  lines,  as  they  received  the  news 
of  the  adoption  of  a  peace  platform  by  a  powerful  party  at 
the  North.  Now,  that  cheer  is  answered  by  one  along  the 
entire  Union  lines,  sending  dismay  to  the  rebel  hearts,  as  it 
informed  them  that  their  Northern  friends  had  been  van 
quished.  Let  the  Union  men  cheer.  Custom  gives  that  right 
to  the  victor ! 

General  Grant,  in  behalf  of  the  army,  writes  the  Secretary 
of  War: 


LINCOLN'S  HE-ELECTION  IN  THE  AEMY.  317 

"  CITY  POINT,  Thursday,  Nov.  10—10:30  P.  M. 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : — 

Enough  seems  to  be  known  to  say  who  is  to  hold  the  reins  of  Govern 
ment  for  the  next  four  years. 

Congratulate  the  President  for  me  for  the  double  victory.  The  election 
having  passed  off  quietly,  no  bloodshed  or  riot  throughout  the  land,  is  a 
victory  worth  more  to  the  country  than  a  battle  won.  Rebeldorn  and 
Europe  will  construe  it  so. 

U.  S.  GRANT, 

Lieutenant- General." 

"  Shall  he  be  buried  with  Christian  burial  that  seeks  his  own 
damnation  ?"  shouted  a  private  in  allusion  to  their  former 
General. 

"  He  has  so  effectually  buried  himself  that  the  services  of  a 
grave-digger  will  be  quite  unnecessary,"  replied  one  of  the 
listeners. 

"  John  Brown's  body  lies  mouldering  in  the  grave, 
While  his  soul  goes  marching  on." 

was  sung  in  one  part  of  the  camp,  while, 

"  We  now  begin  to  see  de  gleaming  ob  de  dawning  ob  de  day," 

came  up  from  a  bevy  of  Africa's  descendants  in  the  rear. 

General  Grant  was  right.  Lincoln's  election  was  better 
than  a  victory  on  the  field.  A  sentiment  pervaded  the  whole 
army  that  the  rebels  would  now  see  that  the  loyal  people 
North  were  resolved  to  suppress  the  rebellion,  not  to  settle  it, 
and  with  a  four  years'  lease  of  power,  resistance  to  the  author 
ity  of  the  Government  would  be  worse  than  useless. 

Near  the  rebel  lines  was  a  Union  fort,  where  for  three 
months  there  had  been  almost  an  incessant  firing  night  and 
day.  So  hot  was  this  vicinity  that  the  fort  had  been  named 
by  the  soldiers  Fort  Hell.  On  Wednesday  night,  the  ninth 
of  November,  all  firing  was,  by  mutual  arrangements  between 
the  pickets  suspended,  the  rebels  being  extremely  anxious  to 


318  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

learn  the  result  of  the  election  of  the  previous  day.  Enough 
had  been  learned  to  justify  the  belief  that  the  Union  cause 
had  triumphed.  The  probable  result  was  shouted  across  to 
the  enemy,  whose  chagrin  was  finally  vented  in  laudations  of 
"  Little  Mac,"  and  harsh  epithets  against  his  successful  rival. 
Thus  the  discussion  which  at  first  was  carried  on  good-na 
turedly  enough,  finally  degenerated  into  the  free  exchange  of 
abusive  personalities,  and  the  truce  was  soon  brought  to  a  ter 
mination  by  a  sudden  volley  from  the  rebels,  whose  exaspera 
tion  knew  no  bounds  as  from  our  side  three  times  three  were 
sent  up  for  Lincoln  and  the  Union.  Our  men,  knowing  the 
treachery  of  the  rebels,  were  not  taken  by  surprise,  and  the 
flash  of  the  enemy's  guns  had  scarcely  disappeared  before  an 
answering  volley  was  hurled  back,  and  for  nearly  an  hour  the 
rattle  of  musketry  was  incessant.  Fort  Hell  also  joined  in 
the  general  din,  and  greeted  the  enemy  with  a  score  or  two  of 
shells. 

During  this  cannonade,  the  novel  exhibition  of  the  collision 
of  two  immense  bombs  in  mid  air  was  witnessed  by  thousands 
of  spectators. 

No  sane  man  will  doubt  that  the  re-election  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  all-powerful  in  the  speedy  suppression  of  the  slaveholder's 
rebellion. 

The  weather  had  now  become  cold,  and  the  time  was  spent 
very  much  as  though  the  decree  had  gone  forth  that  the  army 
should  remain  here  for  the  winter. 

The  cheering  support  of  the  loyal  North  at  the  polls  was 
quickly  followed  by  another  reminder  of  their  gratitude  to 
and  sympathy  for  the  soldiery.  President  Lincoln  had  set 
apart  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  November  as  a  day  of  thanks 
giving  and  prayer.  The  loyal  people  North  had  seized  upon 
this  opportunity  to  remind  the  soldiers  of  their  attachment  to 


THANKSGIVING  IN  THE  ARMY.  319 

them  and  their  cause.  Boat  loads  and  car  loads  of  fat  turkeys, 
chickens,  pickles,  vegetables,  and  other  edibles,  such  as,  though 
too  rare  with  the  soldiers,  are  wont  to  grace  our  tables  at 
home,  at  the  annual  gathering  around  the  family  board,  came 
pouring  in. 

Nothing  could  have  been  devised  more  encouraging  than 
this  manifestation.  The  avalanche  of  "  good  things,"  fresh 
from  the  hands  of  loyalty  and  affection  was  intensely  enjoyed 
by  rank  and  file.  Not  only  did  the  begrimmed  soldiers  relish 
these  delicious  viands  for  the  physical  gratification  afforded, 
but  for  the  associations  accompanying  them. 

A  well-cooked  turkey  or  chicken,  under  any  circumstances 
is  much  to  be  preferred  to  the  hard  tack  and  salt  junk,  min 
gled  with  cinders,  as  it  is  fried  in  a  half  canteen  between  two 
logs ;  but  this  was  sweetened  by  the  recollection  that  mothers, 
sisters  and  sweethearts  in  the  far  off  North-land  had  prepared 
the  dressing,  and  as  they  thought  of  their  darling  ones  in  the 
army,  had  ceased  a  moment  to  wipe  away  a  tear.  It  proved 
to  the  soldier  that  he  was  held  in  grateful  remembrance  at 
home — that  place  where  the  true  soldier  cares  most  to  be  re 
membered,  and  this  thanksgiving  dinner  strengthened  the 
armies  more  morally,  if  not  physically,  than  the  addition  of 
thousands  of  men. 

We  cannot  omit  recording,  however,  that  many  complaints 
were  made  by  some  regiments,  that  they  never  obtained  their 
proper  share  of  these  dainties  so  kindly  sent  from  home.  We 
are  credibly  informed  that  the  cause  of  this  seeming  neglect 
was  the  greediness  and  dishonesty  of  detailed  officers  and 
men  connected  with  the  various  brigade  and  division  head 
quarters.  One  instance  is  related  of  a  company  in  a  New 
York  regiment,  in  the  Fifth  Corps,  that  received  only  twelve 
and  a  half  pounds  of  roast  turkey,  goose,  and  chicken  for 


320  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

sixty-four  men,  and  that  sadly  "mushed,  and  covered  with 
Virginia  sand."  A  general  remark  may  not  be  out  of  place. 
The  soldier  is  largely  indebted  to  the  women  of  the  North  for 
the  almost  numberless  mementoes  of  friendship  which  they 
forwarded  to  the  soldiery  in  the  field.  Yet  very  many  of  the 
articles  of  necessity  and  luxury  never  reached  those  for  whom 
they  were  intended,  but  fell  into  unworthy  hands. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

ANOTHER  ADVANCE— HICKSFORD  RAID— REPORT  OF  GENERAL  HOFMANN— MARCH  OF 
FIFTY  MILES— CONSOLIDATION  OF  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  WITH  THE  ONE  HUNDRED 
AND  FORTY-SEVENTH  NEW  YORK— FAREWELL  TO  THE  SAORED  NUMBER. 

December  1th,  1864. — The  original  term  of  enlistment  of 
all  the  members  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Kegiment  expired  before 
this  date,  and  had  there  been  no  re-enlistments,  this  history 
had  terminated  at  this  point.  But  so  many  had  re-enlisted 
the  preceding  winter  and  spring,  that  two  companies  yet 
remained.  These  were  under  the  command  of  W.  Earle 
Evans,  now  Lieutenant,  originally  a  private  in  Company  F. 
The  patriotism  of  these  men  will  continue  this  narrative  to 
the  end  of  the  war,  and  the  triumph  of  the  Union  arms. 

On  the  seventh  a  forward  movement  was  made  to  the  South, 
known  as  the  Hicksford  raid.  The  following  report  was  made 
by  the  commandant  of  the  Brigade : — 

"  HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  BRIGADE,  THIRD  DIVISION,  ) 
FIFTH  ARMY  CORPS,  Before  Petersburg,  Dec.  16, 1864.     f 

Major  E.  C,  Baird,  A.  A.  O.  Third  Dw.  :— 

Major : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  taken  by  this  Brigade  in  the 
recent  movement  on  Hicksford. 

The  Brigade  broke  camp  on  the  morning  of  the  seventh,  and  joined  the 
Division  at  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road.  The  Brigade  consisted  of  the  fol 
lowing  Regiments : — Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  Veteran  Volunteers,  Major 
Jack  commanding ;  One  Hundred  and  twenty-first  Pennsylvania  Volun 
teers,  Captain  Barlow  commanding;  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second 
v 


322  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGLMEXT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  Lieutenant-Colonel  H.  H.  Warren  commanding  ; 
two  Companies  of  the  late*  Seventy-sixth  New  York,  Lieutenant  Evans 
commanding;  Ninety-fourth  New  York  Volunteers,  Captain  Fish  corn- 
inandiDg ;  Ninety-fifth  New  York  Volunteers,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crency 
commanding;  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers, 
Captain  Coey  commanding,  and  the  headquarters  guard.  Total  1,328 
muskets. 

The  Brigade  crossed  the  Nottoway  river  at  Freeman's  Bridge,  and  moved 
to  and  bivouacked  at  Sussex  Court  House  at  nine  P.  M. 

On  the  eighth  at  seven  A.  M.,  moved  toward  the  Weldon  Railroad  via 
Coman's  well.  When  about  two  miles  beyond  this  place — this  Brigade 
leading  the  column — a  small  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  attempted  to  cut 
through  the  column,  but  were  driven  off  without  loss  to  us.  At  seven  P.  M. 
the  Brigade  commenced  destroying  the  Railroad.  By  eleven  P.  M.  about 
one  mile  of  it  was  destroyed.  Bivouacked,  and  at  seven  A.  M.  on  the  ninth 
moved  to  about  four  miles  below  Jarratt's  Station.  There  the  Brigade 
destroyed  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  of  the  road,  then  moved  to  beyond 
Three  Creek,  where  about  half  a  mile  of  the  road  was  destroyed,  then  went 
into  bivouac.  At  seven  A.  M.  on  the  tenth,  moved  on  Sussex  Court  House. 
Bivouacked  at  five  P.  M.  when  within  about  five  miles  of  it. 

Resumed  the  march  at  eight  A.  M.  on  the  eleventh,  and  when  within  one 
mile  of  Sussex  Court  House,  formed  line  of  battle  and  erected  breastworks, 
to  resist  a  threatened  attack  on  the  rear  of  the  column. 

Subsequently  moved  on  and  crossed  the  Nottaway  at  Freeman's  Bridge, 
and  bivouacked  at  eight  P.  M.,  near church. 

Resumed  the  march  at  nine  P.  M.  on  the  twelfth  inst.,  and  arrived  in 
camp  at  four  P.  M. 

The  work  of  destroying  the  Railroad  was  done  in  a  very  thorough  man 
ner — all  the  ties  burned,  and  all  the  rails  bent. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  on  this  expedition  is  deserving  of 
praise.  There  was  very  little  straggling.  The  few  who  straggled  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  A  nominal  list  of  them  is  herewith  sent,  showing 
the  loss  of  men.  I  am,  Major,  Very  Respectfully, 

Your  Obedient  Servant, 

J.  W.  IIOFMANN, 

Brevet  Brigadier-General  Comd'g  Brigade. 
May  27th,  1865. 

[OFFICIAL.]    HARRY  G.  ELDER, 
Brevet  Major  &  Acting  Brigade  Inspector." 

»  The  Seventy-sixth  is  here  spoken  of  as  the  late  Seventy-sixth,  though  the  order  consolidat 
ing  it  was  not  made  by  the  War  Department  until  December  thirty-first. 


LAST  EETUEN  OF  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH.  323 

The  object  of  the  movement  was  the  destruction  of  the 
Weldon  Railroad.  The  rebels  were  accustomed  to  transport 
their  supplies  to  Stony  Creek  by  rail,  and  reshipping  at  that 
point  in  wagons,  to  convey  them  by  a  circuitous  route  to 
Petersburg.  This  movement  of  General  Warren  to  Hicks- 
ford,  and  his  cavalry  to  Weldon,  accomplished  the  destruction 
of  this  road,  rendering  it  entirely  useless  to  the  rebels. 

The  troops  marched  in  all  about  fifty  miles  on  this  raid, 
and  destroyed  three  long  railroad  bridges,  about  twenty  miles 
of  railroad,  one  hundred  barrels  of  apple  jack  or  cider  brandy, 
and  a  large  amount  of  forage  and  other  stores,  and  captured 
a  score  or  two  of  prisoners,  sustaining  but  a  trifling  loss.  The 
weather  was  intensely  cold,  and  the  men  suffered  severely  in 
their  nightly  bivouacs. 

After  the  return,  the  troops  remained  in  camp  near  Peters 
burg  engaged  only  in  the  ordinary  routine  duties  of  camp  life 
in  winter  quarters. 

The  camp  was  frequently  enlivened  by  news  of  the  advance 
of  Sherman,  now  on  his  great  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea 
board,  and  of  the  victories  of  Thomas  in  the  West.  But  the 
armies  of  the  Potomac  and  James  remained  for  the  most  part 
quiet  in  their  camps. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  December,  1864,  the  date  of  the  last 
official  report  previous  to  the  consolidation,  the  Seventy-sixth 
Regiment  contained  two  commissioned  officers  and  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty-five  non-commissioned  officers  and  men. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  December,  1864,  the  following  order 
was  issued  from  the  War  Department : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 
Washington,  December  31st,  1864.         j" 
Special  Orders  ) 

No.  476.       j"  (Extract.} 

************* 

21.  Upon  the  receipt  of  this  order  by  the  Commanding  General  Army  of 


324  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  1ST.  Y.  Y. 

the  Potomac,  the  remaining  veterans  and  recruits  of  the  Seventy-sixth  New 
York  Volunteers  will  be  permanently  transferred  to  and  consolidated  with 
the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Volunteers,  the  consolidated  force  to 
bear  the  designation  of  the  latter  Regiment. 

The  Commanding  General  Army  of  the  Potomac  will  charge  the  proper 
Commissary  of  Musters  with  the  execution  of  this  order. 

The  consolidation  effected,  the  Commissary  of  Musters  will  forward  to 
this  office  the  transfer  rolls,  as  directed  in  Circular  No.  64,  August 

eighteenth,  1864,  from  this  office. 

#######*#*#*# 

By  Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
(Signed,)  E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
OFFICIAL. 

E.  D,  TOWNSEND,  Ass't  Adjutant  General. 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 
Albany,  Sept.  14, 1866.      J 
OFFICIAL  COPY. 

J.  B.  STONEHOUSE,  Ass't  Adjutant-General. 

This  order  did  not  reach  the  Regiment  until  sometime  in 
January,  1865.  The  last  report  of  the  SEVENTY-SIXTH  was 
made  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  January.  At  that  time  the 
Regiment  was  commanded  by  Captain  Edward  B.  Cochrane, 
and  belonged  to  the  Third  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fifth 
Army  Corps.  The  following  from  the  semi-monthly  report 
for  February  first,  1865,  is  the  last  official  mention  of  the 
Seventy-sixth : — 

Seventy-sixth  New  York  Volunteers  consolidated  with  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers,  January  twenty-fifth  in  compliance 
with  Special  Orders  No.  476,  War  Department,  1864. 

D.  J.  DICKSON, 
Captain  and  Brigade  Inspector. 

It  was  a  trying  ordeal  for  these  veterans  as  they  witnessed 
the  departure  of  the  fragments  of  company  after  company  of 
their  friends  ;  they  had  sadly  witnessed  the  exchange  of  the  old 
flag  for  a  new  one,  but  the  most  trying  of  all,  was  the  relinquish- 
ment  of  that  name  of  which  they  had  felt  so  proud.  The 
76th !  With  what  pride  they  had  welcomed  that  number  at 


FAREWELL  TO  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH.  325 

the  first  which  spoke  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  Bennington,  and 
the  Declaration  of  Independence !  76th ! — the  historic 
number  to  wiiich  all  Americans  ever  point  with  pride.  But 
how  sacred  now  it  had  grown.  The  men  had  worn  it 
on  their  caps ;  it  had  been  printed  on  their  knapsacks ;  they 
saw  it  on  the  front  of  the  cap  of  the  officers  from  whom  they 
received  their  orders  ;  it  was  written  on  their  letters  ;  and  in 
the  midst  of  the  storm  and  fury  of  battle,  when  natural  in 
stincts  led  them  to  seek  safety  in  retreat,  they  had  gazed  upon 
the  dear  old  flag,  and  drawing  inspiration  and  courage  from 
that  freedom's,  talisman,  had  pressed  forward  to  victory.  No 
wonder  that  the  brave  boys  of  so  many  battles  thus  tenaciously 
clung  to  the  cherished  number ;  aye,  as  the  child  clings  to  its 
mother.  Battles  may  hereafter  be  fought  and  won.  These 
heroes  will  do  their  duty,  but  in  all  the  lists  of  Regiments 
covered  with  glory,  the  SEVENTY-SIXTH,  always  the  foremost, 
will  not  be  there.  Our  heroes  may  fall  in  battle,  but  their 
names  will  scarcely  be  noticed,  for  opposite  them  will  no 
longer  stand  the  76th.  When  we  left  Cortland  three  years 
ago,  we  sang  : — 

Don't  stop  a  moment  to  think,  John, 

Our  country  calls,  then  go  ; 
Don't  fear  for  me  nor  the  children,  John, 

I'll  care  for  them,  you  know. 
Leave  the  corn  upon  the  stalk,  John, 

The  fruit  upon  the  tree, 
And  all  our  little  stores,  John, 

Yes,  leave  them  all  to  me. 

Then  take  your  gun  and  go, 

Yes,  take  your  gun  and  go ; 
For  Ruth  can  drive  the  oxen,  John, 

And  I  can  use  the  hoe. 

I've  heard  my  grandsire  tell,  John, 

He  fought  at  Bunker  Hill, 
He  counted  all  his  life  and  wealth, 


326  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

His  country's  off 'ring  still. 
Would  I  shame  the  brave  old  blood,  John, 

That  flowed  on  Monniouth  plain  ? 
No,  take  your  gun  and  go,  John, 

If  I  ne'er  see  you  again. 

Then  take  your  gun  and  go,  &c. 

The  army's  short  of  blankets,  John, 

So  take  this  heavy  pair, 
I  spun  and  wove  them  when  a  girl, 

And  worked  them  with  great  care. 
A  rose  in.  every  corner,  John, 

And  here's  my  name,  you  see ; 
On  the  cold  ground  they'll  warmer  feel, 

Because  they're  made  by  me. 

Then  take  your  gun  and  go,  &c. 

And,  John,  if  God  has  willed  it  so 

We  ne'er  shall  meet  again, 
I'll  do  my  best  for  the  children,  John, 

In  sorrow,  want  or  pain. 
On  winter  nights  I'll  teach  them,  John, 

All  that  I  learned  at  school ; 
To  love  our  country,  keep  her  laws, 

Obey  the  Savior's  rule. 

Then  take  your  gun  and  go,  &c. 

And  varied  it  with : — 

"  76  is  on  our  banners." 

Now,  as  the  men  scatter  along,  singly  and  alone,  to  their  long 
deserted  homes,  it  will  not  be  as  members  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  !  Farewell,  then,  venerated  number  !  Farewell  battle- 
battle-scarred  banners,  that  in  the  fiercest  of  the  fight  so 
proudly  bore  thee !  The  men  who  followed  thee  on  the 
march  and  the  field,  have  the  proud  consciousness  that 
they  have  done  what  they  could  to  make  themselves  worthy 
of  the  name,  and  to  preserve  the  talismanic  number  un 
sullied. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

.* 

THE  ARMY  IN  WINTER  QUARTERS— NEGOTIATIONS  OP  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  TOR  PEACE 
—ORDERS  TO  ADVANCE— FLANKING  THE  ENEMY— SECOND  BATTLE  OF  HATCHER'S  RUN 
—THE  THIRD  DIVISION,  FIFTH  CORPS,  SUFFERS  SEVERELY— SUMMARY  OF  CASUALTIES 
—CHANGING  CAMP— THIRD  "WINTER  QUARTERS." 

THE  troops  were  now  in  winter  quarters,  with  no  expecta 
tion  of  immediate  action.  Sherman  was  on  his  march  to  the 
seaboard,  and  the  reports  of  his  brilliant  achievements  in 
spired  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  no  less  than  his  own.  The 
troops,  with  intelligent  interest,  watched  the  dying  symptoms 
of  the  rebellion,  as  slowly  but  surely  the  coils  of  the  rightful 
authority  tightened  about  it.  The  cold  might  pinch  the  loyal 
army,  and  the  mud  prevent  its  advance.  Yet  the  men  looked 
forward  with  prophetic  eye  to  a  time  when,  the  rebellion  sup 
pressed,  they  should  lay  aside  the  implements  of  war,  and 
hasten  to  the  more  congenial  walks  of  civil  life. 

The  troops  were  pleasantly  situated  in  their  new  log  huts ; 
but  it  was  not  home,  and  they  welcomed  the  order  to  advance, 
which  came  on  the  fourth  day  of  February.  The  order 
directed  a  detail  to  keep  watch  of  the  tents,  while  the  men 
went  forward  in  search  of  the  enemy.  This  looked  like  fight 
ing,  and  not  a  mere  change  of  camp. 

The  attempt  at  negotiation  made  by  President  Lincoln  and 
the  rebel  authorities  had  failed,  and  the  army  and  the  country 
were  assured  that  the  only  road  to  peace  lay  through  success- 


328  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEQIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

ful  warfare.  The  defenses  of  Petersburg  and  Eichmond  were 
nearly  impregnable^  and  General  Grant  still  cherished  his 
favorite  scheme  of  saving  his  men,  while  he  compelled  the 
enemy  to  surrender  by  cutting  off  his  supplies.  Another 
forward  movement  was,  therefore,  determined  upon  in  the 
direction  of  the  Southside  Railroad. 

At  three  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the  fourth  of  February,  orders 
were  received  directing  the  Fifth  Corps  to  march  the  next 
day.  All  was  bustle  and  confusion  in  camp.  At  three 
o'clock  the  next  morning,  preceded  by  Gregg's  cavalry,  the 
Corps  started  on  the  road  to  Eeam's  Station.  ISTo  force  of  the 
enemy  was  encountered.  The  roads  at  various  points  were 
picketed  by  rebel  cavalry,  all  of  whom  retreated  as  our  col 
umn  advanced.  About  noon  our  Corps  reached  Eowanty 
Creek,  where  it  was  halted  several  hours  while  a  bridge  of 
considerable  length  was  being  constructed.  Towards  night 
the  stream  was  crossed,  and  the  troops  went  into  bivouac. 
During  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth,  the  Second  Corps  and  the 
cavalry  were  quite  sharply  engaged,  resulting  in  the  advance 
of  our  lines  beyond  Hatcher's  Eun,  the  capture  of  about  two 
hundred  prisoners,  a  train  of  wagons  and  mules,  and  quite  a 
severe  loss  to  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded. 

About  one  o'clock  P.  M.  the  next  day,  the  Third  Division 
of  the  Fifth  Corps,  including  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
seventh  New  York,  was  ordered  to  the  front.  Crossing  the 
Eun  they  ascended  the  hills  on  the  west  side,  and  as  they 
were  descending  the  opposite  slope  came  suddenly  upon  the 
enemy.  Almost  the  entire  surface  of  the  country  was  cov 
ered  with  a  dense  growth  of  pine.  Marching  through  this, 
upon  the  road  to  Dabney's  Mills,  the  Division  came  upon  a 
clearing  of  some  ten  or  fifteen  acres.  Here  they  found  the 
enemy  in  force.  The  fight  soon  commenced  with  great  fury, 
but  was  of  short  duration,  when  the  rebels  retreated.  Our 


SECOND  HATCHEE'S  RUN.  "  329 

Division  retreated  across  the  open  field  down  to  the  edge  of 
the  opposite  wood  at  double-quick.  The  rebels  kept  up  a 
running  fire,  until  about  five  o'clock,  when  they  made  a  most 
determined  assault  all  along  the  line,  evidently  with  the  inten 
tion  of  breaking  through  the  line,  cutting  off  and  capturing 
the  Division.  At  the  same  time  an  attack  was  made  in  front, 
and  part  of  the  Division  being  out  of  ammunition,  the  left 
fell  back  on  the  center.  Soon  after,  the  right  fell  back  also, 
being  hotly  pursued  by  the  enemy.  In  a  short  time  the  whole 
line  fell  back  in  disorder,  until  they  reached  the  breastworks 
erected  by  the  Third  Division  the  day  before.  Here  they 
were  rallied,  and  pouring  a  heavy  volley  into  the  rebel  ranks, 
brought  them  to  a  sudden  halt.  The  wagons  and  artillery 
were  on  their  way  back  when  the  retreat  commenced,  but  had 
got  fast  in  a  swamp,  and  though  great  efforts  were  made  by 
the  ordnance  officer  of  the  Division  to  save  them,  they  were 
obliged  to  abandon  two. 

The  enemy  shortly  after  made  an  attack  upon  the  left  of 
the  Second  Corps,  near  the  Armstrong  Road,  but  were  re 
pulsed.  The  loss  in  this  engagement  was  quite  severe,  falling 
mostly  upon  the  Fifth  Corps, 

General  Morrow,  commanding  our  Brigade,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  shoulder. 

Captain  Coey,  commanding  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
seventh  Regiment,  was  shot  in  the  nose,  the  ball  coining  out 
at  the  ear. 

The  only  officers  engaged  in  this  battle,  who  formerly  be 
longed  to  the  Seventy-sixth,  were  Lieutenants  Martin  Edg- 
comb  and  George  B.  Hill. 

Of  the  handful  of  the  former  men  of  the  Seventy-sixth, 
Lucas  F.  Lawrence,  of  Company  E,  was  killed,  and  Sergeants 
Miles  R.  Foster  and  John  J.  Evans  wounded. 

The    weather    was  so  intensely  cold  that  whenever  the 


330  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

clothing  became  wet  it  froze  to  the  men,  and  many  who  fell  in 
the  battle  were  frozen  to  death  before  they  could  be  removed 
from  the  field. 

February  1th. — It  was  determined  to  send  a  reconnoisance 
over  the  ground  occupied  by  the  Fifth  Corps  the  day  before, 
to  ascertain  the  whereabouts  of  the  rebels,  and,  if  possible, 
force  them  back  to  their  works  at  Dabney's  Mills.  General 
Crawford's  Division,  (the  Third),  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  having 
led  the  advance  the  day  before,  and  being  best  acquainted 
with  the  nature  of  the  country,  was  selected  for  the  duty. 
Though  they  had  broken  the  day  before,  the  cause  being 
understood  by  the  commanding  General,  no  blame  attached  to 
the  Division. 

The  column  moved  about  noon,  taking  the  Dabney's  Mill 
road,  and  after  abvaneing  about  half  a  mile,  struck  the  rebel 
pickets,  who  fell  back  as  our  men  advanced.  A  line  of  battle 
was  then  formed  and  advanced  cautiously  through  the  dense 
woods  on  each  side  of  the  road.  Before  going  far  they  met 
the  rebels  in  force,  when  a  sharp  engagement  immediately 
commenced.  The  rebels  were  steadily  driven  back  until  they 
took  refuge  behind  their  works  at  the  mill,  where  they  made  a 
determined  stand.  Fighting  was  here  kept  up  until  dark, 
when  our  men  commenced  throwing  up  light  breastworks, 
and  repairing  those  evacuated  by  the  rebels.  At  twilight  the 
Third  Division  was  directed  to  make  a  charge  upon  the  ene 
my's  works  ;  but  on  arriving  near  them,  the  rebels  were  found 
too  strongly  entrenched  to  make  the  charge  practicable,  and 
our  troops  retired  behind  their  works.  During  the  night  our 
Division  advanced  and  built  a  line  of  works  in  the  immediate 
front,  and  very  near  the  rebel  lines. 

The  men  were  without  tents,  and  to  add  to  their  sufferings 
a  severe  storm  of  snow  and  sleet  set  in,  and  the  weather  being 
intensely  cold,  the  troops  were  soon  encased  in  ice.  It  was  a 


LOSSES  AT  SECOND  HATCHER'S  KUN.  331 

gloomy  time,  indeed.  So  near  was  the  enemy  that  fires  were 
not  admissible,  and  to  the  dangers  of  battle  were  added  the 
horrors  of  freezing. 

The  morning  of  February  eighth  dawned  bright  and  sunny 
upon  the  army,  cheering  the  hearts  of  the  brave  men  who  had 
endured  and  accomplished  so  much.  The  spirits  of  the  troops, 
naturally  depressed  by  the  hardships  of  the  past  three  days, 
and  the  freezing  nights,  now  revived,  and  the  determination 
was  universal  to  hold  at  all  hazards  the  extended  line  of  five 
miles. 

It  had  been  developed  by  this  movement,  that  Lee  had 
weakened  his  forces  at  this  point,  by  sending  several  divisions 
against  Sherman.  Thus  the  double  object  of  the  movement 
had  been  accomplished — the  extension  of  our  lines,  and  the 
development  of  the  enemy's  strength. 

The  main  losses  of  these  engagements  were  sustained  by 
the  Third  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps.  The  whole  force  of 
that  Division  numbered  about  four  thousand.  The  losses 
were  : — 

Killed,  -    5  Officers,  66  Men. 

Wounded,  -  28      "  491     « 

Missing,       -     -     -     4       «  586     " 


Total,      -    ---  37      "  1,143     " 

Of  the  missing  many  afterwards  returned  to  their  respect 
ive  Regiments. 

This  movement  extended  the  Union  lines  from  the  James 
River  to  Hatcher's  Run,  a  distance  of  about  twenty-three 
miles. 

During  the  ninth  the  Brigade  was  engaged  in  building  cor 
duroy  roads,  and  smoothing  the  railroad  track  and  converting 
it  into  a  wagon  road,  preparatory  to  occupying  the  grounds 
thus  captured  as  a  camp. 


332  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

On  the  tenth  the  Brigade  returned  to  the  old  camp,  and 
gathering  the  tents  and  other  property,  moved  out  to  the  front 
and  for  the  third  time  that  winter,  commenced  the  erection  of 
winter  quarters.  In  a  few  days  the  surrounding  country  was 
thickly  covered  with  tasty  log  huts,  their  canvas  roofs  bleach 
ing  in  the  alternate  storm  and  sun  of  a  Virginia  winter. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

ANOTHER  ADVANCE— BATTLE  OF  FIVE  FOBKS— REPULSES  AND  SUCCESSES— BRILLIANT 
CHARGES-^MPORTANT  CAPTURES— A  LULL  IN  BATTLE— PETERSBURG  EVACUATED— 
THE  REBELS  RETREAT  PROM  RICHMOND— PURSUIT  or  THE  REBEL  ARMY—  "  IN  AT  THE 
DEATH  "— LEE  SURRENDERS— REJOICING. 

THE  armies  remained  in  winter  quarters  until  the  latter  part" 
of  March,  occupying  the  time  in  picket  and  police  duty  and 
organizing  and  drilling,  preparatory  to  the  approaching  cam 
paign.  The  month  and  a  half  wore  away  and  the  order  came  to 
move  towards  the  Southside  Railroad  on  the  twenty-ninth  of 
March.  The  men  were  up  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  at  daylight  were  on  the  march.  From  the  Lieutenant- 
General  to  the  private,  the  whole  army  entertained  the  belief 
that  this  was  to  prove  the  death-blow  to  the  rebellion.  The 
battle-scarred  veteran,  therefore  emulated  the  recruit  in  enthu 
siasm,  as  they  rushed  forward  toward  the  enemy.  The  First 
Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  containing  the  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty  fifth  New  York,  was  in  the  advance,  and  were  soon 
engaged  in  a  sharp  fight,  in  which  the  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-fifth  lost  heavily.  The  Third  Division  first  marched 
towards  Hatcher's  Run,  then  took  a  road  leading  nearly  south. 
This  they  pursued  five  or  six  miles,  then  turning  to  the  right, 
reached  the  Boydton  Plank  Road  two  miles  from  that  point. 
Here  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  was  under  fire,  but 
the  loss  to  the  Brigade  was  but  one  killed  and  ten  wounded. 


334:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

The  Brigade  at  this  point  halted  and  threw  up  several  lines  of 
breastworks.  Firing  was  kept  up  the  next  day  at  different 
points  along  the  line ;  but  owing  to  a  heavy  rain  storm  which 
set  in,  no  general  engagement  took  place.  The  Brigade  ad 
vanced  about  a  mile  on  the  morning  of  March  thirty-first, 
when  they  wrere  met  with  such  a  galling  fire,  that  they  were 
forced  back  nearly  half  a  mile,  losing  about  one  hundred  men 
in  killed  and  wounded.  Here  wras  terrible  fighting.  The 
contending  forces  swayed  to  and  fro.  At  one  time  a  stampede 
of  our  whole  Brigade  seemed  imminent;  then  by.Jhe  mere 
force  and  courage  of  the  men,  the  rebels  were  driven  back 
and  at  night  our  Kegiment  occupied  a  position  beyond  the  line 
from  which  they  had  been  driven  in  the  morning. 

General  Sheridan  having  been  repulsed  it  was  seen  that  a 
change  of  front  of  the  Fifth  Corps  would  be  necessary  to 
meet  any  attack  of  the  enemy  on  the  left  and  rear.  Accord 
ingly  at  midnight,  the  Fifth  Corps,  leaving  an  interval  to  be 
supplied  by  Miles's  Division  of  the  Second  Corps,  left  its 
position,  and  moving  down  the  Boydtown  Road  toward  Din- 
widdie,  and  massed  at  the  Butler  House  for  the  purpose  of 
seizing  the  White  Oak  Road. 

Early  the  next  morning,  April  first,  the  Fifth  Corps  moved 
forward,  while  the  Second  Corps  commenced  demonstrating 
its  front  to  mask  its  real  intentions.  The  charge  of  the  Fifth 
Corps  was  temporarily  successful,  the  enemy  being  pushed 
back  to  a  point  near  the  White  Oak  Road.  Here  he  rallied, 
and  in  turn  violently  assaulted  the  Fifth  Corps,  which  hastily 
retired  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Boydtown  Road,  where  it  took 
shelter  behind  a  line  of  temporary  works. 

-  Miles's  Division  was  now  directed  to  strike  the  victorious 
enemy  on  the  flank,  and  massing  his  brigades,  he  began  mov 
ing  to  the  left  and  west  from  his  position  on  the  Boydtown 
Road.  The  remainder  of  the  Second  Corps  were  skirmishing. 


BATTLE  OF  FIVE  FOKKS.  335 

About  half-past  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  the  column  of 
General  Miles  struck  the  rebel  left  in  front  of  the  Fifth  Corps, 
surprised  it,  and  moving  rapidly  forward  drove  the  enemy 
like  frightened  sheep,  capturing  a  large  number  of  prisoners, 
guns  and  colors,  then  wheeling  to  the  right  and  still  pursuing 
the  flying  enemy,  established  himself  on  the  White  Oak  lioad. 
Thus,  after  a  severe  engagement  of  several  hours,  our  forces 
had,  at  the  cost  of  several  hundred  lives,  accomplished  what 
was  originally  intended.  During  the  day,  Sheridan,  con 
fronted  by  superior  numbers,  was  again  forced  to  retire,  and 
it  became  necessary  to  threaten  with  larger  numbers,  the 
masses  of  the  enemy  gathered  on  our  left  to  protect  the  South- 
side  Railroad. 

General  Foster  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps  had  again 
advanced  his  pickets  so  near  to  the  guns  of  the  enemy  that 
the  gunners  were  unable  to  work  them,  and  the  two  armies 
occupied  this  position  when  Friday  night  put  an  end  to  the 
operations. 

On  Saturday  morning,  April  first,  General  Sheridan  having 
as  yet  met  with  no  important  success,  determined  to  strike 
the  rebels  a  severe  blow.  General  "Warren  moved  the  Fifth 
Corps  to  the  rear  of  the  White  Oak  Road  to  report  to  Sheri 
dan,  and  Miles  likewise  fell  back  and  extended  his  Division 
along  the  Boydtown  road,  facing  northwest.  Sheridan  who 
in  the  morning  was  east  of  Five  Forks,  now  commenced 
moving  west  and  northwest  in  several  columns,  and  meeting 
the  enemy  in  strong  force,  "a  fight  was  immediately  com 
menced. 

Tne  Fifth  Corps  had,  in  the  meantime,  moved  southwest 
toward  the  Five  Forks,  and  the  enemy,  struck  in  front  and  on 
both  flanks,  soon  wavered  and  fell  back.  Charges  such  as 
had  never  during  the  war  been  exceeded  for  valor  and  im 
petuosity,  were  now  made  by  both  the  infantry  and  cavalry. 


336  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

The  rebel  hosts  were  rolled  back  in  confusion,  and  captured 
by  regiments  and  even  brigades. 

Sunday,  April  second,  opened  bright  and  glorious.  The 
sky  was  undimmed,  except  by  the  battle-smoke  of  the  previous 
four  days,  and  the  haze  as  of  an  Indian  Summer,  which  for  a 
week  had  hung  over  the  army.  To-day  the  hosts  of  Sheridan's 
prisoners  were  sent  to  City  Point,  apparently  well  pleased 
with  their  change  of  condition. 

General  Grant  had  determined  upon  a  grand  wheel  of  the 
whole  line  south  of  the  Appomattox.  Petersburg,  the  key  to 
Eichmond,  was  to  be  attacked  by  one  grand  combined  assault 
upon  the  east,  southeast,  and  south,  by  the  Sixth  and  Ninth 
Corps,  while  the  command  of  General  Ord,  on  both  sides  of 
Hatcher's  Run,  moved  to  their  support,  followed  by  the  Sec 
ond  Corps.  Early  in  the  morning,  Turner's  and  Foster's 
Divisions  of  Ord's  command  moved  to  the  support  of  the 
Sixth  Corps,  leaving  General  Birney,  of  the  Colored  Division, 
to  charge  the  enemy  simultaneously  with  the  Second  Corps  on 
its  left.  The  charge  was  almost  a  ftoodless  one.  No  enemy 
except  a  few  pickets  were  found  in  their  front,  and  they  con 
tinued  their  grand  right  wheel  until  about  eleven  A.  M.,  they 
were  on  the  line  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  southwest  of  Petersburg. 
The  gallant  Sixth  and  Ninth  Corps  had  already  performed 
the  task  assigned  them.  The  Sixth,  supported  by  General 
Ord,  had  advanced  two  miles,  carried  a  complete  line  of  for 
midable  works,  including  a  number  of  forts,  and  seized  the 
Southside  Railroad,  while  the  Ninth  had,  by  a  series  of 
assaults,  forcibly  possessed  three  important  points,  and  occu 
pied  Fort  Mahone  in  front  of  Fort  Hell.  The  three  Corps 
alone,  captured  thirty-two  guns,  nearly  three  thousand  prison 
ers,  and  large  numbers  of  colors  and  small  arms.  The  assault 
was  made  with  such  rapidity  that  more  losses  were  sustained 
during  the  massing  of  the  troops,  than  during  the  assault 


EVACUATION  OF  PETERSBURG.  337 

itself.  The  rebels  made  a  bold  resistance,  but  it  was  of  no 
avail.  Determined  men,  white  and  black,  with  bristling  bay 
onets,  and  a  resolution  to  "  fight  it  out  on  this  line,"  had  now 
grappled  with  treason  in  its  stronghold,  and  the  fate  of  the 
rebellion  was  sealed.  Fort  after  fort,  batteries  and  rifle  pits 
were  successively  carried,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  the 
Southside  Road,  within  three  miles  of  the  town,  was  in  our 
possession. 

The  headquarters  of  Generals  Grant  and  Meade,  at  night, 
were  at  the  Ritchie  House,  on  the  Boydtown  Road,  within 
three  miles  of  the  town  and  in  range  of  the  enemy's  batteries. 
No  one  could  foretell  the  glorious  results  just  then  in  the 
grasp  of  the  loyal  soldiery.  Night  came,  and  the  weary  sol 
diery  slept  upon  their  laurels.  Bright  columns  of  light  arose 
from  the  city,  and  until  one  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  occa 
sional  shots  were  exchanged  between  the  two  lines.  Then  all 
became  still,  and  so  remained  until  morning. 

At  three  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  April  second,  an  ad 
vance  was  made,  and  the  enemy's  works  in  front  of  the  Sixth 
and  Ninth  Corps  carried,  our  forces  capturing  many  prisoners 
and  a  large  number  of  guns.  This  lasted  until  about  eight 
o'clock  A.  M.,  when  the  fighting  ceased,  and  all  remained 
quiet. 

At  half-past  four  o'clock  the  next  morning,  (April  third), 
four  reports  of  cavalry  in  front  of  Birney's  colored  troops 
were  heard,  followed  in  quick  succession  by  four  shells  as  they 
sped  with  their  hollow,  rushing  sound  towards  Petersburg. 

The  troops  were  yet  in  their  bivouac,  and  were  scarcely 
awakened,  before  cheer  upon  cheer  rolled  up  along  the  line 
until  the  whole  line  joined  in  the  jubilee.  It  required  no 
"  general  orders "  to  explain  the  cause.  The  enemy  had 
evacuated  Petersburg,  that  key  to  the  Capital  of  the  "  Con 
federacy,"  and  were  even  now  hastily  retreating  from  the  loyal 
w 


338  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V, 

army !  It  was  indeed  a  jubilee  to  the  battle-scarred  veterans. 
Nor  were  the  colored  troops  of  General  Birney  less  joyful 
than  their  white  brethren  in  arms.  As  a  colored  regiment 
marched  into  the  city,  they  sang  : — 

"  Say,  darkies,  hab  you  seen  de  rnassa, 

Wid  de  mufstash  on  his  face, 
Go  down  de  road  sometime  dis  mornin', 

Like  he's  gwine  to  leab  de  place  ?" 

while  in  every  part  of  the  army  the  delight  of  the  troops 
knew  no  bounds. 

Colonel  Ely,  commanding  the  Second  Brigade,  First  Di 
vision,  Ninth  Corps,  was  credited  with  being  the  first  to  enter 
the  city,  and  was  made  Provost  Marshal  of  the  town.  No 
sooner  had  his  headquarters  been  established,  than  it  was 
thronged  with  rebels  demanding  "  guards  to  protect  private 
property." 

So  thoroughly  convinced  had  President  Lincoln  become 
that  the  city  must  surrender,  that  he  had  left  Washington,  to 
be  "  in  at  the  death,"  and  arrived  at  Petersburg  with  Admiral 
Porter  in  the  afternoon. 

On  the  same  morning  that  our  troops  marched  into  Peters 
burg,  the  Mayor  of  Richmond  surrendered  the  keys  of  the 
public  buildings  of  that  city  to  General  Weitzel,  who,  with 
his  staff  led  the  advance  into  the  town. 

The  tactics  of  General  Grant  did  not  permit  him  to  squan 
der  his  time  in  rejoicing  over  his  laurels.  The  enemy,  under 
General  Lee  had  retreated  to  the  southwest  along  the  Danville 
Road,  and  the  whole  Union  army,  save  a  small  garrison  left 
in  each  city,  was,  during  the  afternoon  set  in  motion  in  that 
direction. 

The  thrilling  thought  of  occupying  this  objective  point  of 
four  years'  struggle,  would  have  caused  almost  any  other 
General  than  Grant  to  linger  about  his  prize  ;  but  with  him 


CHASING  THE  ENEMY.  339 

the  object  of  the  war  was  to  suppress  the  entire  rebellion,  not 
to  rejoice  over  victories. 

The  race  between  loyalty  and  treason  now  became  exciting. 
General  Lee,  with  the  advantage  of  nearly  a  whole  day's 
march,  was  striving  for  a  point  of  safety  in  the  interior,  but 
Sheridan,  with  characteristic  energy,  was  fast  gaining  upon 
him.  On  the  sixth  of  April  General  Sheridan  reported  to 
General  Grant  :— 

"  THURSDAY,  April  6—11  P.  M. 

Lieutenant- General  Grant : — 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  ene'my  made  a  stand  at  the  intersec 
tion  of  the  Burke's  Station  Road  in  the  road  upon  which  they  were 
retreating.  I  attacked  them  with  two  Divisions  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps, 
and  routed  them  handsomely,  making  a  connection  with  the  cavalry.  I  am 
still  pressing  on  with  both  cavalry  and  infantry.  Up  to  the  present  time  we 
have  captured  Generals  Evvell,  Kershaw,  Button,  Corse,  De  Barre  and 
Custis  Lee,  several  thousand  prisoners,  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery,  with 
caissons.  If  the  thing  is  pressed  I  think  Lee  will  surrender. 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 

Major-General  Commanding." 

In  their  flight  the  enemy  threw  away  everything  which 
could  impede  their  progress.  General  Sheridan  pushed 
forward  the  cavalry  and  infantry  with  great  energy,  captur 
ing  large  numbers  of  prisoners  and  arms,  and  destroying  vast 
trains  which  the  enemy  were  compelled  to  abandon. 

The  Fifth  Corps  was  now  under  Sheridan  in  the  advance, 
and  thus  the  few  remaining  members  of  the  old  Seventy-sixth 
with  happy  hearts  witnessed  the  death  of  the  rebellion. 

Almost  every  day  from  the  second  of  April,  when  Rich 
mond  and  Petersburg  were  evacuated,  until  Sunday,  the  ninth, 
when  Lee  surrendered,  the  Fifth  Corps  was  under  fire  from 
the  rear  of  the  rebel  army,  yet  they  pressed  cheerfully 
onward.  The  march  from  Petersburg  to  Appomattox  was  a 
long  one,  and  from  the  broken  and  hilly  character  of  the 
country,  would,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  have  been  con- 


340  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

sidered  tedious  ;  but  flushed  with  success,  the  men  made  their 
march  of  thirty  miles  a  day,  with  less  weariness  than  they  had 
formerly  retreated  half  that  distance.  At  length,  on  Satur 
day,  the  eighth  of  April,  1865,  within  a  fortnight  of  four  years 
from  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  to  the  rebels,  General 
Grant  opened  a  correspondence  with  General  Robert  E.  Lee, 
looking  to  the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 
On  the  following  day  the  whole  of  that  army  surrendered 
unconditionally,  at  Appomattox  Court  House.  General 
Grant  immediately  telegraphed  the  glorious  news  to  Wash 
ington. 

The  excitement  and  unalloyed  and  exuberant  joy  manifested 
in  the  army  at  this  result  of  their  heroic  sacrifices,  met  a 
hearty  response  from  the  people  as  the  joyful  news  flashed 
over  the  land.  What  if  the  intoxicating  bowl  did  for  a  mo 
ment  add  power  to  the  expression  of  gladness !  Sober  voices 
could  scarcely  do  justice  to  the  long  pent  up  feelings,  and  we 
pardon  alcohol  for  this  intrusion  ! 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THE   SURRENDER  OP  JOHNSTON— MURDER  OP  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN— HOMEWARD  BOUND— 

MARCH  TO  PETERSBURG — "ON  TO  RICHMOND" — FREDERICKSBURG — CROSSING  THE  OLD 
CAMP— MARCH  TO  ARLINGTON  HEIGHTS— THE  GRAND  REVIEW— COMING  HOME— "EX 
PENDED  IN  THE  SERVICE." 

THE  surrender  of  Lee  was  soon  followed  by  that  of  Johns 
ton.  The  hopes  of  the  South  had  centered  upon  General  Lee, 
who  was  undoubtedly  their  ablest  chief,  and  with  his  surrender 
all  hopes  of  successful  resistance  to  rightful  authority  died 
out.  This  became  apparent  no  less  from  the  tone  of  the  press 
and  the  people,  than  from  the  surrender  of  all  their  armies. 
Mr.  Lincoln  visited  Richmond,  and  was  welcomed  with  appa 
rent  cordiality — a  feeling,  alas,  more  apparent  than  real ! 

The  day  after  the  surrender  of  Lee  was  extremely  rainy 
and  disagreeable,  but  the  "  boys  in  blue "  were  happy,  and 
remained  busy,  gathering  up  the  captured  property,  and  parol 
ing  the  rebel  troops. 

At  length,  on  Wednesday,  the  twelfth,  the  Fifth  Corps 
started  on  their  homeward  march  !  The  mud  reminded  the 
aVmy  of  Burnside's  celebrated  march,  but  with  different  feel 
ings  the  men  waded  on,  until  the  fifteenth,  when  the 
headquarters  of  the  Corps  were  established  at  Burkesville. 
Here  was  received  that  news  so  shocking  to  loyalty  everywhere, 
but  pre-eminently  so  to  the  army — the  assassination  of  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  !  No  man  ever  enjoyed  in  such  an  eminent 
degree  the  entire  confidence  and  admiration  of  the  army,  and 


342  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  HEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

the  country,  as  Mr.  Lincoln.  His  very  name  was  the  talis 
man  which  gave  courage  in  the  fight,  and  endurance  on  the 
march.  His  stories  enlivened  the  camp,  and  his  name  was 
was  sung  on  the  march  and  in  the  bivouac.  The  army  has  by 
disloyal  men  been  stigmatized  as  "  Lincoln's  hirelings."  They 
never  despised  the  name  of  "  Lincoln's  admirers."  The  news 
of  his  assassination  did,  indeed,  sadly  reverse  the  current  of 
universal  rejoicings.  The  display  of  all  the  flags  at  half-mast, 
the  draping  of  the  swords,  and  cannon,  and  sleeves  with 
crape,  the  muffled  drums,  and  saddening  tones  of  the  death- 
march,  but  feebly  told  of  the  deep,  unspeakable  sorrow  which 
pervaded  the  camp.  Like  a  clap  of  thunder  from  a  clear  sky, 
the  news  fell  upon  the  army,  and  it  was  overwhelmed  with 
sorrow.  Men  who  without  an  unmanly  emotion  could  march 
to  the  cannon's  mouth  ;  heroes  who  had  faced  death  in  a  hun 
dred  forms  with  impaled  cheek,  now  wept  like  children,  and 
the  army  which  had  crushed  the  rebellion,  felt  itself  crushed 
by  that  single  bullet  of  the  assassin.  Eulogy  is  powerless. 
The  future  will  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  the  Great  Libe 
rator  and  Defender. 

The  army  made  slow  progress,  passing  through  Petersburg 
on  the  third,  and  Richmond  on  the  sixth  of  May.  The  men 
now  became  fully  aware  that  they  were  indeed  inarching 
homeward.  ~No  pen  can  describe  the  emotions  created  by  that 
assurance.  Home !  after  all  the  turmoil  and  dangers,  the  pri 
vations  and  endurances !  A  peaceful  home  of  quiet  and 
plenty,  after  four  years  of  bloody  strife.  No  wonder  that  tne 
boys  cheered  and  joked,  and  were  happy,  as  they  reeled  home 
ward  under  their  heavy  knapsacks  ! 

Through  Hanover  Court  House  and  Milford,  often  meeting 
objects  with  which  they  became  acquainted  the  year  before, 
while  on  the  great  campaign  of  1864,  the  army  reached  oppo 
site  Fredericksburg,  May  ninth,  and  crossed  the  field  where 


"THE  OLD  CAMP  GROUND."  343 

they  fought  so  bravely  December  thirteenth,  1862,  and  April 
twenty-ninth,  1 863.  How  the  memory  of  those  severe  strug 
gles  crowded  upon  the  remaining  heroes !  Of  all  that  gallant 
Seventy-sixth  'which  then  followed  the  brave  Doubleday  up 
into  "  the  jaws  of  death,"  but  about  thirty  now  remained ! 

Crossing  the  Rappahannock  on  pontoons  a  mile  below 
Fredericksburg,  the  veteran  heroes  soon  came  in  sight  of  the 
huts  they  had  built  in  1862.  How  familiar  every  foot  of  the 
uneven  ground ! 

With  home  in  view,  the  conquerers  could  not  long  dwell 
upon  such  scenes,  but  on  through  Dumfries,  Fairfax  Court 
House,  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  and  Falls  Church,  a  little  before 
sundown,  May  twelfth,  went  into  camp  on  Arlington  Heights, 
on  the  same  grounds  occupied  by  McDowell's  Corps  in  1861. 

Here  the  Corps  remained  until  May  twenty- third,  when  it 
crossed  the  Potomac  and  took  part  in  the  great  Presidential 
review.  Never  before  on  this  continent  was  there  such  a  mar 
shaling  of  the  Sons  of  Freedom.  Well  may  the  spirit  of 
despotism  abroad  profit  by  this  parade  of  the  noble  army 
which  crushed  out  the  spirit  of  despotism  in  this  country.  Its 
steel  is  burnished  for  the  next  conflict,  whenever  it  shall  be 
precipitated.  Long  rows  of  graves  and  trenches  mark  the 
resting  place  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Freedom's  defenders, 
but  they  are  but  a  tithe  of  the  hosts  that  will  ever  rush  from 
the  hills  and  valleys  of  the  North,  to  "  rally  round  the  flag," 
and  uphold  the  right,  whenever  endangered  from  any  source. 

Shortly  after  the  grand  review,  most  of  the  volunteer  forces 
were  mustered  out,  the  veteran  regiments  being  retained  until 
the  last.  As  the  organizations  reached  their  homes,  they  met 
with  such  receptions  as  returning  heroes  deserve — processions, 
banquets,  speeches,  and  all  the  outward  tokens  of  welcome. 
Alas  !  no  such  reception  awaited  the  Seventy-sixth.  Its  time 
having  expired  in  1864,  but  few  of  the  men  remained  in  the 


344  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K.  Y.  V. 

service,  and  they  had  been  absorbed  in  another  organization. 
It  had  lost  its  identity,  and  its  few  remaining  members  came 
home  singly  and  alone.  But  each  member  will  ever  point 
with  just  pride  to  those  four  words  which  sum  up  its  glorious 
history  : — 

"  EXPENDED  IN  THE  SERVICE  !" 

Such  a  record  is  more  to  be  desired  than  all  the  chaplets  an 
admiring  crowd  can  weave  about  the  brows  of  an  unexpended 
organization.  Such  a  record  is  not  only  a  badge  of  honor  to 
the  wounded  heroes  who  survived  the  storm  of  battle  ;  but  it 
is  a  fitting  epitaph  to  the  memory  of  those  brave  heroes  who 
now  lie  buried  in  the  accursed  soil  they  died  to  save  ! 

This  noble  Regiment,  like  its  fellows,  was  not  expended  in 
vain,  if  its  heroic  sacrifices  shall  conduce  to  the  establishment 
of  those  eternal  principles  of  justice  whicji  are  embodied  in 
the  Declaration  of  Independence — principles  to  overthrow 
which  the  rebellion  was  inaugurated. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


COLONEL  NELSON  WINCH  GREEN. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Pike,  Allegany,  (now  Wyo 
ming),  county,  New  York,  July 
thirtieth,  1819.  His  father,  Arnold 
Green,  was  born  in  Worcester,  Mas 
sachusetts.  The  ancestors  of  Col 
onel  Green,  on  both  sides  were 
Revolutionary  patriots.  His  grand 
father  on  his  mother's  side  (Roberts) 
died  in  the  Revolutionary  service. 

The  Worcester  Greens,  and  the 
P  Rhode  Island  Greenes  were  origi 
nally   descended    from    the    same 

*   *  W?:  /     EnglWlfamily.  Five brothers land. 

ed  at  Boston  at  an  early  day,  and  purchased  lands  upon  which  to  settle.  But 
differing  irreconcilably  upon  matters  of  religion,  they  agreed  to  separate  amica 
bly,  the  three  Worcester  brothers  taking  the  lands  purchased,  and  dropping  the 
final  "  B,"  and  the  other  two  retaining  the  final  "  E."  Thus  the  Greenes  went  to 
Rhode  Island,  taking  a  certain  amount  of  money.  From  this,  the  Quaker  branch, 
came  General  Nathaniel  Greene. 

The  grandmother  of  Colonel  Green,  Betsey  Winch,  afterward  Roberts,  sent  her 
three  sons  to  accompany  her  husband  to  the  battle  of  Lexington,  and  the  latter 
never  returned.  They  were  living  within  hearing  of  the  battle-field,  and  were 
fitted  out  and  rushed  to  the  field  after  the  battle  commenced. 

Colonel  N.  W,,  Green  was  trained  in  the  elementary  branches  at  the  private 
school  of  Harley  F.  Smith,  of  Pike,  N.  Y.,  and  entered  the  military  academy  at 
West  Point,  as  a  cadet,  in  September,  1839,  in  the  class  of  Generals  U.  S,  Grant, 


346  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Franklin,  Augur,  Quinby,  Ingalls,  Dent  and  Wheaton.  After  remaining  at  the 
Military  Academy  over  three  years,  and  being  remarkably  proficient  in  his  studies, 
when  within  a  few  months  of  graduation,  he  was  accidentally  injured,  and  pre 
vented  from  entirely  completing  the  course,  though  he  had  passed  a  highly 
satisfactory  examination  in  all  the  principal  branches  there  taught.  At  the  time 
he  received  the  injury,  he  was  engaged  in  the  light  artillery  drill  introduced  about 
that  time,  by  the  celebrated  Colonel  Ringgold.  After  being  thus  disabled,  Colonel 
Green  read  law  with  Senator  James  R.  Doolittle,  then  in  practice  in  Wyoming 
county.  He  was  afterwards  connected  editorially  with  several  newspapers,  and 
wrote  "Fifteen  Years  Among  the  Mormons,"  a  work  possessing  much  merit  as  a 
composition. 

In  October,  1859,  Colonel  Green  removed  to  Cortland,  Cortland  county,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

"When  the  rebellion  became  a  fixed  fact,  Colonel  Green  evinced  a  desire  to  do  all 
in  his  power  to  aid  the  authorities.  Before  the  idea  of  raising  a  regiment  had 
been  started,  he  formed  classes  for  drill  at  the  village  hall,  and  to  this  beginning 
may  justly  be  attributed  the  organization  of  the  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

While  others  were  doubting  the  possibility  of  raising  even  a  Company,  Colonel 
Green  insisted  that  by  proper  effort  a  Regiment  might  be  organized,  and  to  his 
determination  more  than  to  any  other  one  man,  is  due  the  formation  of  the  Reg 
iment.  He  drew  the  call,  (on  pages  20  and  21),  except  so  far  as  it  speaks  of 
himself,  and  immediately  set  about  the  work  of  organization.  How  well  he  suc 
ceeded  we  "have  had  occasion  to  witness.  A  regiment  of  better  men  was  never 
organized,  and  no  regiment  ever  improved  more  rapidly  in  discipline  and  the 
elementary  drills,  than  did  this  Regiment  while  the  Colonel  was  with  it.  As  we 
marched  through  New  York  we  enjoyed  the  proud  satisfaction  of  hearing  citizens 
on  the  street  declare  that  of  all  the  regiments  that  had  passed  through  the  city, 
this  was  the  first  in  which,  in  marching  by  the  right  flank,  the  rear  files  kept  step 
with  the  front. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  findings  of  the  Military  Commission  at  Wash 
ington,  show  the  light  in  which  the  investigation  placed  him  before  the  Court  :— 

The  undersigned  beg  leave  to  report :— That  they  find  nothing  in  the  testimony  adduced,  de 
rogatory  to  Colonel  Green's  character  as  a  gentleman  or  man  of  honor. 

This  was  signed  by  the  two  members  who  decided  adversely  to  the  Colonel. 
The  report  then  proceeds  : — 

All  the  members  concur  in  reporting  Colonel  Green's  proficiency  in  the  Tactics  and  Regula 
tions.  Respectlully  submitted. 

JOHN  C.  CALDWELL, 

Colonel  and  President. 
SELDBN  HKTZEL,  Major  and  Recorder. 

The  legal  effect  of  this  action  of  the  Court  in  this  case,  was  an  acquittal. 

Through  all  of  Colonel  Green's  troubles,  no  man  has  been  able  to  point  to  a 
corrupt  act.  On  his  trial  for  shooting  McNett,  he  was  fully  vindicated  by  the 
evidence  of  Generals  Robinson,  Davies  and  McDougal,  as  to  his  abstract  right  to 
shoot  McNett,  and  the  failure  to  convict  was,  under  the  circumstances,  equivalent 
to  an  acquittal.  The  jury  are  understood  to  have  been  six  for  acquittal,  and  six 


COLONEL  NELSON  WINCH  GREEN.  347 

for  holding  him  for  a  technical  "  assault,"  being  unanimous  against  finding  an  in 
tention  to  kill,  which  was  the  substance  of  the  offense  charged. 

The  following  documents  are  annexed  to  this  sketch,  without  note  or  comment, 
as  matter  of  history.  The  last  was  in  the  hands  of  the  lamented  President  Lin 
coln,  and  under  his  consideration,  unacted  upon,  at  the  time  of  his  assassi 
nation  : — 

CAMP  CAMPBELL,  December  5th,  1861. 
To  His  EXCELLENCY,  GOVERNOR  MORGAN:— 

Honored  Sir :— We  learn  from  Captain  A.  J.  McNett,  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  New 
York  State  Volunteers,  now  under  arrest  at  this  camp  for  disobedience  of  orders,  that  he  has 
preferred  charges  against  Colonel  N.  W.  Green,  commanding  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  New 
York  State  Volunteers. 

Your  Excellency— We,  the  undersigned,  commissioned  officers  in  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment, 
knowing  the  charges  to  be  untrue  and  malicious,  take  this  early  opportunity  to  truly  represent 
to  you  our  Colonel,  asking  your  confidence  in  our  statements,  which  we  make  without  any 
solicitation,  or  hint  even,  from  Colonel  Green.  Colonel  Green,  commanding  the  Seventy-sixth 
Regiment,  is  an  earnest,  patriotic  and  Christian  man.  He  is  an  energetic,  thorough  and  compe 
tent  officer.  He  has  the  confidence  and  love  of  both  his  officers  and  men.  We  love  him  aa  a 
man,  respect  him  as  an  officer,  and  will  obey  him  as  commander  of  his  Regiment. 

Your  Excellency— We  thank  you  for  the  honor  you  have  conferred  upon  us  by  placing  him 
in  command  of  our  Regiment,  and  we  humbly  pray  your  Honor,  that  your  confidence  in  Colo 
nel  Green  may  not  be  shaken  by  these  slanderous  charges. 

Pardon  us,  Governor,  for  expressing  frankly  our  opinion  of  Captain  A.  J.  McNett  in  this  same 
paper.  We  have  learned  thoroughly  to  distrust  both  his  patriotism  and  his  integrity.  We  can 
not,  under  any  circumstances,  willingly  suffer  him  to  occupy  any  position  over  us,  and  we  again 
pray  your  Excellency  to  allow  Colonel  Green  to  retain  his  place  in  your  confidence,  and  in  our 
Regiment.  Waiting  your  orders  to  march  against  our  enemies,  we  remain, 

Very  Respectfully, 

J.  C.  CARMICHAEL,  Acting  Lieut.-Colouel,          G.  I.  FOSTER,  1st  Lieut.  Co,  D. 
J.  C.  NELSOX,  Surgeon,  JOHN  H.  BALLARD.  2d  Lieut.  Co.  E. 

H.  S.  RICHARDSON,  Chaplain.  WM.  W.  GREEN,  2d  Lieut.  Co.  F, 

ANDREW  J.  GROVER,  Capt.  Co.  A,  E.  J.  Cox,  1st  Lieut,  Co.  E, 

WM.  LANSING,  Capt.  Co.  G,  E.  R.  WEAVER,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  C, 

H.  F.  ROBINSON,  Act'g  Adjutant,  W.  S.  WALCOTT.  2d  Lieut.  Co.  B, 

G.  D.  CRITTENDEN,  Capt.  Co.  C,  A.  SAGEE,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  G, 

W.  H.  POWELL,  Capt.  Co.  E,  JOHN  FISHEK,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  K, 

OSCAR  C.  Fox,  Capt.  Co.  B,  A.  P.  SMITH,  Lieut.  A.  Q.  M., 

J.  H.  BARNARD,  Capt.  Co.  F,  E.  D.  VAN  SLYCK,  Capt.  Co.  K. 

ADJTTTANT-GENEBAL'S  OFFICE,  Albany,  Dec.  30, 1864. 

I  certify  this  to  be  a  true  copy  of  the  original  on  file  in  this  office. 

J.  B.  STOREHOUSE,  Ass't  Adjutant-General. 

WASHINGTON,  December  5, 1862, 
To  HON.  E.  M.  STAHTON,  Secretary  of  War :— 

Dear  Sir :— Colonel  N.  W.  Green,  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers, 
then  in  the  United  States  service,  alleges  that  he  was  cited  before  a  Court  of  Inquiry,  in  Feb 
ruary,  1862,  which  found  nothing  against  him.  Many  of  the  officers  were  opposed  to  his  com 
mand,  and  he  was  arrested  and  suspended  from  his  command,  and  he  was  subsequently,  on  the 
third  day  of  June,  1862,  without  further  trial,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Governor  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  by  War  Department  Special  Order  No.  124,  discharged  the  service. 

Believing  Colonel  Green  to  be  a  loyal,  brave  and  competent  man,  a  well  educated  and  effi 
cient  officer,  and  that  his  service  may  be  made  useful  to  the  Government  and  country,  I 
recommend  that  his  case  be  reviewed,  and  that  the  order  discharging  him  from  the  service  be 
rescinded,  if  the  facts  that  shall  appear  will  justify  it,  and  that  he  be  ordered  to  report  for  duty 
to  General  Blunt,  of  Kansas,  or  to  other  duty  where  his  services  may  be  required. 

Very  Respectfully,  PRESTON  KING. 

I  have  confidence  in  Colonel  Green,  and  believe  he  hag  the  capacity  to  render  valuable  ser 
vice  to  the  Government,  as  a  military  officer.  If  any  arrangement  can  be  made  by  which  his 
services  can  be  made  available,  as  indicated  by  Senator  King,  I  shall  be  much  gratified. 

I  concur  in  what  is  said  by  the  Senators  from  New  York. 

J.  R.  DOOLITTLE. 

I  have  confidence  in  Colonel  Green,  and  concur  in  the  request  of  the  Senators  from  New 
York.  J.  H.  LANE. 

IN  THE  MATTER  OF  COLONEL  N.  W.  GREEN'S  CLAIM  to  be  recognized  the  Colonel  of 
the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  of  the  New  York  State  Volunteers  :— 

STATEMENT. 

N.  W.  Green  was  commissioned  as  the  Colonel  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  by  a  Commis 
sion  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  bearing  date  October 
twenty-ninth,  1861,  and  duly  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  on  the  twentieth 
day  9f  November,  1861,  by  Major  J.  T.  Sprague,  U.  S.  Mustering  Officer  at  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  and 
was  in  actual  command  of  said  Regiment,  from  its  first  organization,  September,  1861.  until 
about  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  February,  1862,  when  he  was  arrested  by  order  of  General  Doub- 
leday,  near  Washington,  D.  C.,  without  charges  or  reason  assigned,  which  arrest  continued 


34:8  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

until  the  twelfth  day  of  April,  1862,  at  which  date  he  was,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
released  from  arrest,  and  required  to  repair  to  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  there  to  await  further 
orders  ;  which  requirement  he  obeyed,  and  has  remained  at  Cortland  county  until  the  present 
time  :  and  no  further  order  has  ever  been  made  known  to  him,  except  the  order  in  the  words 
and  figures  following,  to  wit  :— 


,  ADJTTTANT-GEXEBAL'S  OFFICE,) 

SPECIAL  OEDEB  NO.  124.  wanton,  Juue  3,  1862.       \ 

At  the  recommendation  of  the  Governor  of  New  York,  Colonel  N.  W.  Green,  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  is  hereby  discharged  the  service. 
Order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

(Signed),  L.  THOMAS,  Adjutant-General. 

The  Regiment  named  in  said  order,  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  for 
three  years,  and  their  term  of  service  does  not  expire  until  about  October,  1864. 

I. 

The  above  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War  is  a  NULLITY,  and  without  authority  of  law. 

1st.  (llth  Article  of  War).  The  President  alone  has  authority  to  make  an  OBDEK  discharging 
a  Commissioned  Officer. 

2d.  The  President  (previous  to  the  act  approved  July  seventeenth,  18G2)  could  make  such 
order  only  :— 

1st.  On  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service. 

2d.  Resignation. 

3d,  Partial  disbandment  of  the  army. 

4th.  Sentences  of  Court  Martials. 

See  DeHart's  Military  Law,  p.  228  to  243. 

II. 

And  even  after  the  passage  of  the  Act,  approved  July  seventeenth,  1862,  sec.  17,  enabling  the 
President  to  "  dismiss  and  discharge  "  any  officer  "  FOE  AKY  CAUSE,'*  &c.,  it  is  submitted  that 
the  President  cannot  AKBITRAKILY  discharge  WITHOUT  CAUSE  ;  he  must  at  least  know  of  the 
case,  or  hear  what  the  charges  are,  and  determine  from  some  basis  that  the  cause  renders  the 
officer  unsuitable  for  the  public  service,  or  that  his  dismission  will  promote  the  public  service. 

But  this  power,  after  the  passage  of  said  Act,  is  not  important  in  determining  the  effect  or 
legality  of  orders  made  betore  its  passage.  The  order  in  question  is  of  the  date  of  June  third, 
1862  :  this  law  cannot  be  said  to  aflect  previous  ORDERS,  but  only  to  confer  new  authority  upon 
the  President  for  the  future. 

The  legal  effect  of  said  order,  No.  124,  cannot  be  determined  except  by  considering  the  power 
of  the  Secretary  of  War  at  the  time—  and  even  if  such  an  order  were  made  by  the  President, 
its  legal  effect  must  be  determined  by  considering  his  power  at  the  time. 

The  CAUSES  which  led  to  this  order  are,  of  course,  ot  no  importance  in  determining  the  ques 
tion—What  is  the  legal  effect  of  said  order  ?  Were  those  causes  deemed  important,  Colonel 
Green  is  ready  and  willing  to  vindicate  himself  against  any  charge  which  can  be  invented 
against  him—  only  asking,  if  required  to  do  so,  that  he  may  be  informed  what  the  charges  are  ; 
and  that  their  truth  or  falsehood  may  be  determined  by  fair  trial,  before  any  legally  constituted 
tribunal.  Such  an  investigation  he  earnestly,  but  respectfully,  solicits,  if  deemed  of  any  im 
portance. 

But  if  such  order,  No.  124,  BE  a  nullity,  then  Colonel  Green  is,  as  he  claims  to  be,  the  Colonel 
of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  ;  and  as  such  Colonel,  respectfully  asks  that  he  be  restored  to 
his  command. 


COLONEL  WILLIAM  P.  WAUSTWKIGIIT 

WAS  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  June  tenth,  1818.  He  enjoyed  the  benefits 
of  a  liberal  education,  having  graduated  from  the  University  of  the  Cily  of  New 
York.  After  graduating,  he  studied  medicine,  but  not  fancying  to  practice,  he 
never  did.  Soon  after  finishing  his  medical  studies,  he  went  to  Europe  and  there 
devoted  his  attention  principally  to  military  studies.  He  was  a  long  time  at  Ber 
lin,  which  was  then  the  best  point  for  that  purpose.  Since  then  these  have  been 
his  favorite  pursuit,  although  some  connection  with  the  militia  of  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  long  resided,  was  his  only  practical  application  of  them,  until 
the  war  of  1861.  The  militia  is  a  poor  organization  for  the  practical  operation  of 
military  science,  so  that  the  Colonel  never  found  much  encouragement  in  his 
favorite  vocation  until  he  entered  the  army.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war, 


COLONEL  WILLIAM  P.  WAINWRIGHT.  349 

he  was  requested  to  take  the  post  of 
Major  in  the  Twenty-ninth  New  York 
Volunteers.  This  was  composed 
chiefly  of  Germans,  and  Colonel 
Wainwright  understanding  that  lan 
guage  perfectly,  and  the  officers  de 
siring  one  American,  he  Vas  finally 
induced  to  accept  the  position.  The 
officers  had  mostly  been  educated  at 
the  German  military  schools,  and  it 
was  always  a  source  of  gratification 
to  the  Colonel  that,  though  fearfully 
cut  up,  this  was  one  Regiment  in  the 
Brigade  that  did  not  run  at  Chan- 
cellorsville.  Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Cross  Keys,  Colonel  Wainwright  was 
ordered  to  Washington  to  take  command  of  the  SEVENTY-SIXTH,  then  at  Frede- 
ricksburg.  How  earnestly  he  entered  upon  his  work  has  been  already  stated  in 
the  body  of  this  work.  The  Colonel  believes  that  the  best  men  will  be  inefficient 
without  discipline  and  drill,  while  these  aids  will  make  tolerable  soldiers  of 
poorer  material.  In  a  communication  to  the  writer,  the  Colonel  says  :— 

"  lean  now  unhesitatingly  say  that  there  are  no  men  capable  of  being  made  such  good  sol 
diers  as  our  native  American  COUKTRY  boys ;  but  they  should  know  their  ABC  before  being 
brought  into  the  field,  and  their  officers  should  have  some  idea  of  what  they  have  a  right  to 
require,  and  that  neither  laziness  nor  home  associations  must  interfere  with  keeping  each  man 
up  to  his  work. 

I  believe  I  mentioned  to  you  that  I  consider  it  a  great  subject  of  pride  for  the  Seventy-sixth, 
that  (at  least  so  far  as  I  remember),  they  have  never  exhausted  their  cartridges  on  the  hottest 
battle-neld.  The  action  is  hardly  conceivable  in  which  a  good  soldier,  who  has  a  full  supply  at 
the  commencement,  should  do  so.  Europeans  are  much  worse  about  it  than  Americans,  and 
were  it  not  that  the  Prussian  needle  gun,  (being  a  breech-loader),  never  requires  the  muzzle  to 
be  raised  high  enough  to  be  directed  above  the  enemy's  heads,  the  only  consequence  from  its 
capacity  of  rapid  discharge,  would  have  been  to  make  it  impossible  to  supply  the  army  with 
cartridges." 

The  anxiety  of  the  Colonel  that  his  Regiment  should  have  the  best  officers, 
commissioned  and  non-commissioned,  and  be  in  the  best  state  of  drill  and  disci 
pline,  sometimes  induced  the  men  to  believe  him  unnecessarily  strict ;  but  as 
they  grew  into  soldiers,  and  witnessed  their  steady  ranks  as  they  rushed  into  the 
jaws  of  death,  while  other  regiments  of  equally  good  material,  from  want  of  dis 
cipline,  broke  and  fled,  they  united  in  one  voice  of  praise  of  the  Colonel. 

At  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  the  Colonel  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  his 
horse  killed  under  him.  He  rejoined  the  Regiment  near  Warrenton,  and  remained 
in  command  at  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville ;  but  on  the  march  to  the 
North  in  June,  1863,  his  health  becoming  impaired,  he  was  obliged  to  resign. 
We  have  failed  of  our  object  if,  in  the  preceding  pages,  we  have  not  shown  that 
Colonel  Wainwright  was  an  accomplished  Christian  gentleman  and  officer. 

He  has  resumed  his  residence  in  New  York  City. 


350 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  JOHN  D.  SHAUL.* 

WAS  born  in  the  town  of  Stark,  Her- 
kimer  county,  New  York,  December 
18th,  1814.  In  1839  he  removed  to 
Springfield,  where  he  has  since  re 
sided.  He  was  elected  Colonel  of 
the  Thirty-ninth  New  York  State 
Militia  in  1850,  of  which  he  was  in 
command  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion.  When  the  war  had  actu 
ally  commenced,  he  used  every  en 
deavor  to  get  the  consent  of  his 
Regiment  and  the  permission  of  the 
Governor  to  take  it  out  as  an  organ 
ization.  On  the  first  of  October, 
1861,  he  received  an  order  to  place  his  men  in  camp  at  Cherry  Valley,  and  com 
mence  recruiting  at  that  place.  This  order  was  promptly  and  cheerfully  complied 
with  by  the  Colonel,  and  the  companies  first  organized  were  soon  after  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service.  He  closed  up  his  large  farming  business  at  a  great 
pecuniary  loss,  and  immediately  directed  his  entire  attention  to  the  reorganization 
and  recruiting  of  his  Regiment,  and  the  drill  and  discipline  of  the  men.  In  addi 
tion  to  the  large  amount  of  money  he  was  obliged  to  advance  in  recruiting,  he 
found  it  expedient,  in  connection  with  the  commandant  of  the  depot,  to  lend  his 
credit  to  a  large  amount,  to  secure  the  payment  of  the  necessary  camp  expenses, 
rations,  &c.  A  large  proportion  of  the  Regiment  had  signified  their  desire  to 
have  the  Regiment  go  out  in  a  body,  and  some  had  even,  when  requested  to  join 
other  organizations,  claimed  to  be  waiting  for  that  purpose,  and  had  thus  excused 
themselves  from  entering  the  service  earlier.  But  now,  to  the  great  disappoint 
ment  of  the  Colonel,  he  found  that  only  a  very  few  responded  to  his  invitation  to 
them  to  come  forward  and  be  mustered  into  the  service.  Recruiting  proved  very 
dull.  No  large  bounties  had  at  that  time  been  offered. 

In  January,  1862,  the  Regiment,  only  some  six  hundred  and  sixty-seven  strong, 
were  ordered  to  Albany,  where  they  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  eighth,  and 
were  soon  after  consolidated  with  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  in 
which  Colonel  Shaul  took  the  position  of  Lieutenant-Colonel.  There  was  a 
strong  effort  made  at  Albany  to  prevent  the  Colonel  entering  the  service,  even  in 
this  capacity,  and  as  he  made  no  pretensions  at  wire-pulling  or  political  gambling, 
he  would  have  been  thanklessly  sent  home,  had  not  his  officers  and  friends  insist 
ed  that  he,  at  least  deserved  this  position,  and  should  by  right  have  it. 
The  Seventy-sixth  went  out  with  Green  as  Colonel,  and  Shaul  as  Lieutenant- 


•Written  by  Major  John  W.  Young. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   ANDKEW   J.    GEOVEB.  351 

Colonel.  In  February,  1862,  Green  was  relieved,  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  left  in 
command  of  the  Regiment.  Colonel  Green  was  soon  after  discharged,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Shaul  remained  in  command  until  the  last  of  June,  when  he 
was  relieved  by  Colonel  William  P.  Wainwright. 

During  the  four  and  a  half  months  Colonel  Shaul  was  in  command  of  the  Regi 
ment,  he  had,  by  an  honest  administration  of  military  rule,  and  his  upright  and 
gentlemanly  conduct,  gained  the  esteem  and  good  will  of  both  his  officers  and 
men.  For  about  three  months  he  had  command  of  five  forts  in  the  defenses  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  in  addition  to  the  infantry  drill,  he  was  obliged  to  in 
struct  his  Regiment  in  the  artillery  drill  and  practice. 

In  May  the  Regiment  was  ordered  to  Fredericksburg,  and  again  divided  into 
detachments  for  guard  duty.  Here  the  opportunities  for  drilling  were  greatly 
lessened,  but  in  order  to  keep  up  the  battalion  drill,  the  Colonel  would  get  as 
many  of  the  men  together  as  possible  for  that  purpose. 

While  in  camp  near  Fredericksburg,  the  Colonel  was  taken  sick,  and  when  his 
command  was  ordered  to  Culpepper,  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  Surgeon  Clymer 
at  Washington.  Here  he  remained  some  four  weeks,  during  which  time  General 
Pope  retreated  before  the  enemy,  and  the  Seventy-sixth  passed  through  Washing 
ton.  Knowing  this,  the  Colonel,  although  he  had  not  fully  recovered,  hoping  by 
prudence  to  regain  his  former  health,  was  very  desirous  of  rejoining  his  Regiment, 
to  which  the  Surgeon,  after  much  objection,  consented,  and  he  again  took  command 
of  the  Seventy-sixth,  in  camp  at  Sharpsburg.  But,  to  the  great  disappointment  of 
the  Colonel  and  his  friends,  in  about  two  weeks  he  had  a  relapse,  and  was  sent  to 
the  Seminary  Hospital  at  Georgetown.  On  the  twentieth  of  November,  1862,  he 
was  honorably  discharged,  on  account  of  physical  disability ;  not,  however,  until 
he  had  consulted  with  the  surgeon  in  charge,  who  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  he 
would  not  be  able  to  endure  the  hardships  of  the  service,  and  that  it  was  his  duty 
to  have  him  discharged  on  that  account.  Then  the  Colonel,  feeling  that  he  had 
done  all  he  could  for  his  country  in  the  field,  and  not  wishing  to  receive  remune 
ration  for  services  he  could  not  render,  cheerfully  accepted  his  discharge,  and 
returned  to  his  home  in  Springfield,  Otsego  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His  post  office  address  is  East  Springfield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y. 

He  has  never  fully  recovered  from  the  sickness  he  incurred  while  in  the  service, 
but  considers  himself  able  to  oversee  his  large  farming  business,  to  which  he  has 
returned. 

John  Shaul,  the  grandfather  of  the  Colonel,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  was  captured  by  the  Indians  and  kept  a  prisoner  five  years.  The  father  of 
the  Colonel,  Daniel  Shaul,  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  ANDEEW  J.  GKOVEK,* 

WAS  born  in  West  Dryden,  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  on  the  twenty-second 
day  of  December,  1830.      His  early  advantages  for  an  education  were  limited  to 
•Written  by  Rev.  D.  W.  Bristol. 


352  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


the  privileges  furnished  by  our  com 
mon  schools  at  that  time.  At  the 
age  of  seven  years,  death  deprived 
him  of  both  his  parents,  so  he  may 
be  said  to  have  commenced  life  al 
most  alone.  When  sixteen  years  of 
age,  burning  with  a  desire  to  see  the 
world,  and  prompted  by  a  military 
ardor  which  is  so  common  to  youth 
of  that  age,  but  which  in  him  was  a 
development  of  a  peculiar  adaptation 
of  mind  for  military  art  and  science, 
he  enlisted  in  the  army  then  being 
raised  for  the  Mexican  war.  After  a 
brief  stay  in  New  York,  he  sailed  with  the  expedition,  which  eventually  landed 
at  Vera  Cruz,  and  subsequently,  led  by  General  Scott,  entered  the  City  of  Mexico 
and  explored  the  famed  "halls  of  the  Montezumas."  Here  he  had  an  attack  of 
fever  peculiar  to  that  climate,  which  came  near  carrying  him  to  his  grave,  and  the 
effects  of  which  attended  him  to  the  close  of  his  eventful  and  useful  life,  it  having 
caused  a  lameness  which  was  often  attended  with  excruciating  pain. 

Such  was  his  bearing  as  a  soldier  while  in  the  army,  that  at  the  close  of  his  term 
of  enlistment  he  was  offered  an  office  in  the  regular  service,  if  he  would  renew 
his  enlistment  and  remain.  This,  however,  he  declined,  preferring  to  return  to 
the  walks  of  civil  life.  At  the  close  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  each  soldier  who 
was  honorably  discharged  received  a  warrant  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land.  Colonel  Grover  sold  his,  and  with  the  avails  commenced  a  course  of  edu 
cation,  which  he  sought  in  the  Groton,  then  the  Ithaca,  and  finally  in  the 
Cazenovia  Seminaries.  In  these  institutions  he  attained  a  fair  educational  train 
ing,  but  what  was  better,  he  contracted  habits  of  study  which  attended  him 
during  his  whole  life.  He  was  a  keen  observer  of  men  and  things,  and  a  thor 
ough  student.  With  a  keen  perception  and  a  quick  apprehension,  he  was  enabled 
to  master  speedily  whatever  he  undertook. 

In  1852  he  entered  the  Christian  ministry,  in  which  he  continued  until  the  fall 
of  1861.  There  his  success  was  eminent,  he  having  attained  to  a  high  position 
for  one  of  his  age,  in  the  church  of  his  choice.  He  always  won  the  esteem  and 
confidence,  as  well  as  the  affection,  of  his  people.  His  pulpit  efforts  were  clear, 
logical  and  forcible,  always  commanding  the  admiration,  and  awakening  the  con 
victions  of  his  audience. 

In  the  autumn  of  1861,  seeing  and  feeling  the  peril  of  his  country,  he  felt  it  to 
be  his  duty  to  throw  himself  into  the  breach,  in  common  with  thousands  of  his 
brave  countrymen,  for  the  defense  of  the  Government.  He  assisted  in  raising  the 
Seventy-sixth  Regiment.  Some  estimate  can  be  made  of  his  energy  and  popular 
ity,  when  it  is  known  that  in  less  than  a  month  his  company  was  full  and 


LlEUTENANT-CoLONEL    AttDKEW   J.    GEOVER.  353 

mustered  into  the  service  of  the  country.    His  commission  as  Captain  bears  date 
January  seventeenth,  1862. 

In  the  spring  of  1862  he  took  the  field  and  participated  in  the  toils  and  dangers 
of  the  stirring  events  which  during  that  summer  occurred  in  Northern  Virginia. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  at  Rappahannock  Station,  August  twenty-second, 
Warrenton  (Sulphur)  Springs,  August  twenty-sixth,  and  Gainesville,  August 
twenty-eighth.  In  this  last  battle  he  was  ordered  forward  just  in  the  evening  twi 
light,  with  a  detachment  of  his  company,  to  feel  of  the  enemy,  who  were  known 
to  be  in  the  vicinity.  On  coming  within  rifle  range,  he  heard  the  order  of  the 
enemy  to  fire.  Ever  careful  of  his  men,  he  directed  them  to  lie  down,  but  re 
mained  himself  standing.  Here  he  received  two  severe  wounds,  which,  for  a 
time,  were  thought  to  be  mortal ;  one  in  his  leg  and  the  other  in  his  back.  Here 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  he  and  his  men  lay,  he  suffering  from  three  wounds,  while 
a  terrific  fight  was  waged  between  the  two  armies,  the  shot  from  either  side  flying 
over  them.  When  the  fight  was  over  he  was  brought  off  the  field  and  conveyed 
to  Washington,  where  for  many  weeks  he  lay,  enduring  as  only  our  brave  sol 
diers  knew  how  to  endure,  the  suffering  arising  from  wounds  received  in  defense 
of  country  and  great  principles.  When  at  the  last  he  so  far  recovered  as  to  return 
to  his  home,  supposing  himself  unfitted  for  further  service  in  the  army,  he  re 
signed  his  commission,  with  the  purpose  of  again  entering  upon  his  pastoral 
duties.  But  he  recovered  rapidly,  and,  contrary  to  the  expectations  of  all,  re 
gained  nearly  all  his  former  soundness. 

In  February,  1863,  without  his  knowledge  or  solicitation,  he  was  appointed 
Major  of  his  Regiment.  This  was  no  small  compliment  to  him  from  his  old  com 
panions  in  arms  who  recommended  his  appointment,  and  is  good  evidence  of  the 
high  esteem  in  which  they  held  him  as  a  companion  and  a  soldier.  After  much 
anxious  thought  he  concluded  to  accept  this  unexpected  call  as  an  indication  of 
Providence,  as  to  his  line  of  duty.  He  accordingly  bid  adieu  to  his  wife  and  chil 
dren,  and  again  accepted  the  fatigues  and  perils  of  the  field.  From  May  first  to 
the  sixth  he  fought  at  Chancellorsville,  winning  the  confidence  of  all  by  his  mili 
tary  skill  and  bravery. 

On  the  morning  of  the  first  of  July,  1863,  he  was  in  command  of  his  Regiment 
on  the  eventful  field  of  Gettysburg.  He  led  his  men  with  great  gallantry,  but, 
following  his  orders,  he  led  them  into  the  crater  of  a  volcano.  Early  in  the  battle 
which  opened  the  terrible  but  decisive  conflict  of  that  field,  he  was  struck  by  a 
rifle  ball  near  the  heart,  and  lived  only  a  few  moments  after ;  but  he  was  com 
posed  and  calm,  looking  death  in  the  face  with  the  same  Christian  heroism  with 
which  he  met  the  enemies  of  his  country.  He  gave  his  watch  with  the  badges  of 
his  rank  to  a  comrade,  requesting  that  they  be  given  to  his  wife,  and  then,  on  the 
bloody  field  and  amidst  the  roar  of  battle,  awaited  the  summons  of  the  Great 
Captain  of  salvation  in  the  heavens.  No  doubt  his  thoughts  during  those  brief 
moments  dwelt  with  his  wife  and  children,  whom  he  so  tenderly  loved,  but  whom 
he  was  to  meet  no  more  in  this  life.  Sometime  previous  to  this  he  had  been  re 
commended  for  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel,  but  for  some  reason  his  commission 
was  not  received  until  after  his  death, 
x 


354:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  ~N.  Y.  Y. 

Colonel  G rover  was  a  man  of  superio  r  mental  abilities,  of  warm  attachments, 
and  possessed  of  a  most  generous  disposition.  An  ardent  friend  of  most  court 
eous  manners.  Sometimes,  when  engrossed  in  a  subject  which  deeply  interested 
him,  he  appeared  to  those  who  did  not  know  him  well,  as  impetuous  ;  but  this 
was  more  in  appearance  than  reality.  He  had  a  keen  sense  of  honor,  and  was  a 
man  of  high  integrity.  As  a  soldier,  he  was  patriotic,  prompt,  strict  in  discipline, 
and  brave.  No  officer  carried  with  him  the  confidence  of  his  men  in  this  respect, 
to  a  greater  extent  than  he  did.  That  he  stood  high  with  his  superiors,  the  fol 
lowing  letters  to  his  bereaved  family  will  show.  Colonel  Wainwright,  who  had 
formerly  commanded  the  Seventy-sixth,  writes  : — 

MORRISTOWN,  N.  J.,  August  llth,  1863. 
MY  DEAR  MADAM  :— 

I  am  well  aware  that  nothing  can  add  to  the  comfort  which  the  Christian  hope  for  those  we 
love  always  gives  ;  but  it  is  some  gratification  to  hear  that  our  friends  were  appreciated  by 
those  who  had  opportunity  of  knowing  them  thoroughly  in  their  peculiar  vocation,  and  it  is 
especially  so  as  to  the  character  of  a  soldier  in  these  times  of  active  service,  which  bring  every 
point  conspicuously  to  sight.  As  commanding  officer  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  I  had  learned  to 
esteem  and  value  very  highly  your  lamented  husband,  for  his  distinguished  courage  on  the  field, 
and  for  his  knowledge  of  his  duties,  as  well  as  his  unflinching  determination  in  performing 
them.  On  leaving  the  Regiment  I  felt  it  was  in  good  hands,  and  he  has  proved  in  the  battle  in 
which  he  l9st  his  life,  that  it  was  so.  Such  men  are  not  only  a  great  loss  to  their  regiments,  but 
to  the  service,  for  there  is  a  quiet  influence  from  their  example,  which  affects  every  oflicer 
brought  in  contact  with  them.  As  a  man  and  a  soldier,  Major  Grover  always  appeared  to  me 
a  model,  and  in  the  management  of  his  Company  when  Captain,  in  the  gallant  manner  in  which 
he  led  our  skirmishers  at  Gainesville,  or  more  recently  as  commander  of  the  Regiment  at  Get 
tysburg,  he  has  given  every  reason  for  those  who  knew  him  to  lament  his  loss.  With  high 
respect,  I  am,  dear  madam, 

Very  sincerely  your  friend,  WM.  P.  WAINWRIGHT, 

Late  Colonel  76th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

The  following  is  from  General  L.  Cutler,  who  at  the  time  commanded  the  Brig- 
age  to  which  the  Seventy-sixth  was  attached  :— 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  FIRST  DIVISION,  FIRST  CORPS,  ) 
In  the  Field,  July  13th,  1863.        ) 
MY  DEAR  MADAM  :— 

It  is  my  painful  duty  to  announce  to  you  the  death  of  your  good  and  brave  husband,  who  fell 
bravely  leading  his  Regiment  to  the  bloody  battle  of  July  first,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.  I  was  with 
in  a  few  paces  of  him  when  he  fell.  He  was  among  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  and  fell  lamented 
by  all  who  knew  him.  His  Regiment  behaved  worthy  of  their  leader,  and  although  losing  more 
than  half  their  number,  fought  on  through  the  three  bloody  days,  and  are  still  ready  to  avenge 
their  fallen  leader  and  comrades,  and  restore  the  Government  of  the  Union.  Allow  me  to  ofter 
you  my  sincere  condolence  for  your  great  loss,  and  to  assure  you  that  he  died  In  a  glorious 
cause,  and  without  a  fear  or  murmur. 

The  body  was  buried  on  the  field  with  the  men  who  fell  by  his  side.    We  could  do  no  more. 
I  am  very  truly  yours,  L.  CUTLER. 

Brig.-General  Commanding  Brigade. 

Such  was  the  testimony  of  those  who  had  the  best  opportunity  to  know  him, 
and  who  were  the  most  capable  of  judging  of  his  merits  as  a  man  and  an  officer. 
He  probably  was  not  more  virtuous  or  more  brave  than  many  others  who  went 
forth  in  the  great  strife  for  our  national  existence,  but  he  was  as  good  and  as 
brave  as  any.  In  October  the  remains  of  Colonel  Grover  were  recovered,  through 
the  exertions  of  his  ever  affectionate  and  faithful  wife,  and  were  brought  to  Cort 
land  by  C.  P.  Cole,  Esq.,  of  the  GAZETTE  AND  BANNER,  for  final  interment. 

The  funeral  services  at  Cortland,  were  conducted  by  the  Masonic  fraternity,  to 
which  Colonel  Grover  belonged.  Large  delegations  of  brethren  were  in  attend 
ance  from  Utica,  Syracuse,  Homer,  Marathon,  Dryden,  Binghamton,  Cortland, 
and  other  Lodges,  and  the  services  of  the  Knights  Templars,  under  Z.  C.  Priest, 
of  Utica,  as  well  as  the  Masonic  burial  service  at  the  grave,  under  the  direction  of 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL    CHARLES    A.    WATKINS. 


355 


Clinton  F.  Paige,  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York,  were 
solemn  and  impressive. 

The  remains  of  Colonel  Grover  now  lie  in  the  Cortland  Rural  Cemetery  an 
early  and  noble  offering  upon  the  altar  of  an  imperiled  country. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  CHARLES  A.  WATKINS 


WAS  born  in  Oneonta,  Otsego  coun 
ty,  New  York,  May  twenty-sixth, 
1838.  His  parents  were  John  M. 
and  Julia  A.  Watkins.  He  was  edu 
cated  at  the  common  school.  At  the 
time  of  his  enlistment,  Colonel  Wat- 
kins  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  at 
Oneonta.  Receiving  permission  of 
General  Danforth  to  raise  a  company 
for  the  Thirty-ninth  New  York  State 
Militia,  then  recruiting  at  Cherry 
Valley,  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
the  hotel,  and  on  the  thirtieth  of 
November,  1861,  proceeded  with 
thirty-two  men  to  Cherry  Valley,  where  they  were  examined  and  mustered  into 
the  service.  The  Colonel  was  then  unanimously  elected  Captain  of  the  company, 
with  C.  M.  Gaylord  as  First  Lieutenant.  When  the  Thirty-ninth  was  ordered  to 
Albany,  and  consolidated  with  the  Seventy-sixth,  this  company  was  consolidated 
with  the  company  being  raised  by  Captain  Young,  and  became  Company  K  in  the 
Seventy-sixth,  with  J.  W.  Young  as  Captain,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  as 
First  Lieutenant. 

While  at  Riker's  Island,  Lieutenant  Watkins  was  ordered  on  detached  duty  at 
Albany,  to  look  after  the  sick.  Here  he  remained  six  weeks,  when  he  was,  at  his 
own  request,  relieved,  and  he  joined  the  Regiment  at  Meridian  Hill,  D.  C. 

On  reaching  Fredericksburg,  Company  K  was  assigned  to  duty  at  General 
Doubleday's  headquarters.  While  on  this  duty,  he  was  sent  with  despatches 
from  General  Doubleday  to  General  McDowell's  headquarters,  at  Manassas.  On 
the  first  of  July,  1863,  he  was  appointed  Regimental  Quartermaster,  by  Colonel 
Wainwright,  the  duties  of  which  dfiicc  he  performed  until  the  tenth  of  February, 
1863,  when  he  was  relieved  and  ordered  to  Company  I  for  duty.  He  served  suc 
cessively  in  Companies  I,  E.  G.  and  H.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  first, 
1863,  he  commanded  the  Color  Company  until  toward  night  of  the  first  day, 
when,  the  Adjutant  being  wounded,  he  was  appointed  Acting  Adjutant,  by  Cap 
tain  Cook  commanding  the  Regiment.  He  continued  in  that  position  until  the 


356  THE  SEVEKTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  K.  Y.  V. 

Regiment  reached  Rappahannock  Station,  when  he  received  orders  from  Gen 
eral  Rice,  commanding  the  First  Division,  to  report  at  his  headquarters  as  Acting 
Aid-de-Camp  upon  his  staff.  He  remained  upon  the  staff  of  the  Division  com 
mandant,  acting  in  the  meantime  as  Provost  Marshal,  until,  the  Regiment 
becoming  deficient  in  officers,  he  was  ordered  back  to  his  company.  He  remained 
with  his  company  until  May  twenty-second,  1864,  when  he  was  ordered  by  Colonel 
Hofmann,  commandant  of  the  Brigade,  to  report  to  him  as  Acting  Aid-de-Camp 
and  Brigade  Inspector.  He  acted  in  this  capacity  until  he  was  mustered  out  with 
his  company  (C),  November  eighth,  1864,  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  on  expira 
tion  of  term  of  service. 

Lieutenant  Watkins  was  slightly  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  first  1863,  and 
the  same  day  promoted  to  Captain.  On  the  fifteenth  day  of  October,  1864,  he 
was  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  vice  John  E.  Cook,  mustered  out  on  expi 
ration  of  term. 

Colonel  Watkins  was  never  reported  on  the  sick  list  while  in  the  service,  and 
never  absent  from  duty  while  the  troops  were  on  the  march.  He  was  absent  from 
duty  twenty-five  days  during  the  winter  of  1862-3.  On  the  twenty-third  of  May, 
1864,  Colonel  Watkins  was  sent  out  by  General  Cutler,  with  thirty  picked  men 
from  the  "  Iron  Brigade."  They  advanced  some  four  miles  beyond  our  lines,  and 
captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  The  following  extract  from  General 
Orders,  shows  how  well  the  duty  was  performed  :— 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOXD  BRIGADE,  FOITRTH  DIVISION,  FIFTH  A.  C.,? 
In  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  August  0th,  1804.       ) 
(Extract)  General  Order  No.  24. 

In  expressing  my  thanks  to  you,  I  do  so  not  only  as  an  individual,  but  as  commanding  officer 
of  the  Brigade.  Had  your  reputation  for  skill  and  bravery  as  an  officer  no  other  basis  than  the 
services  you  have  rendered  in  this  campaign,  it  would  still  rest  upon  a  firm  foundation.  To  the 
prompt  and  skillful  manner  in  which  you  advanced  the  skirmish  line  at  Jericho  Ford,  on  the 
evening  of  the  twenty-third  of  May  last,  was  due  the  capture  of  over  two  hundred  prisoners. 
Trusting  that  you  may  safely  pass  through  this  yet  uuended  campaign, 

I  am  truly  yours,  J.  W.  HOFMANN, 

Colonel  Commanding  Brigade. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Colonel  Watkins  and  his  father  became  proprietors  of 
the  Exchange  Hotel  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  still  resides. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  JOHN  E.  COOK* 

WAS  bom  in  Hadley,  Mass. ,  August  twenty-fifth,  1829.  His  parents  still  reside 
there.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  Colonel  Cook  commenced  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  vocation  he  has  since  pursued.  In  1848  he  removed  to 
Middleburg,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  now  resides.  By  a  drill  of  seven  years 
in  the  State  Militia,  he  had  acquired  a  taste  for  military  life,  and  when  the  rebel 
lion  broke  out,  he  was  an  early  recruit.  Organizing  a  company  in  the  "Otsego 
Regiment,"  he  with  it  joined  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  was  made  Captain  of  Com- 

•Owing  to  the  advanced  stage  of  this  work  on  Colonel  Cook's  return  from  the  South,  his  por 
trait  cannot  appear,  much  to  the  regret  of  the  writer. 


BREVET  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  AMOS  L.  SWAN.       357 

pany  I.  On  arriving  at  Fredericksburg  in  the  summer  of  1862,  he  was,  in  June, 
made  Provost  Marshal  of  that  city.  He  took  part  in  all  the  battles  during  Pope's 
retreat.  He  was  commissioned  Major,  June  twenty-fifth,  1863,  and  after  the  death 
of  Major  Grover  at  Gettysburg,  assumed  command  of  the  Regiment.  He  was 
honorably  mentioned  by  the  Brigade  Commander,  for  bravery  in  that  battle.  He 
was  slightly  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  but  did  not  leave  the  field.  He  was  after 
wards  commissioned  Lieutenant-Colonel,  with  rank  from  the  third  of  July,  1863. 
At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864,  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in 
the  right  arm,  and  was  thus  compelled  to  leave  the  Regiment,  joining  it,  however, 
about  a  month  afterward  near  Petersburg,  Va. 

On  the  seventh  of  October,  1864,  Colonel  Cook  was  again  wounded  by  a  piece 
of  shell,  depriving  him  of  his  command  about  one  week.  With  these  two  excep 
tions,  he  was  in  command  of  the  Regiment  from  July  first,  1863,  to  the  end  of  his 
term  of  enlistment,  October  seventh,  1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  service. 
Since  leaving  the  service,  he  has  been  engaged  in  business  South,  and  chiefly  in 
the  State  of  Texas. 


BKEYET  LIEUT.-COL.  AMOS  L.  SWAN 

WAS  born  in  West  Cambridge,  Mass.  At  the  age  of  seven  years  he  was  left  fath 
erless,  and  soon  after  sent  to  live  with  a  distant  relative.  In  Boston  he  learned 
the  trade  of  machinist  and  locksmith,  and  the  manufacture  of  philosophical  and 
chemical  apparatus  and  models.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  removed  to  Utica 
and  engaged  in  a  silversmith  and  jewelry  establishment.  In  1840  he  removed  to 
Cherry  Valley,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1842  he  married  the  daughter  of 
J.  K.  Forrester.  Since  that  time  he  has  become  extensively  known  as  a  manu 
facturer  of  melodeons,  in  which  business  he  is  still  engaged  at  Cherry  Valley. 

When  the  rebellion  broke  out, 
Colonel  Swan  was  in  command  of 
the  Union  Guards,  and  as  such  vol 
unteered  to  join  the  army.  At  the 
consolidation  he  was  the  tenth  in 
rank,  as  regarded  the  date  of  his 
commission,  so  that  all  the  other 
Captains  stood  above  him  in  the 
line  of  promotion.  He  remained  in 
the  Regiment,  until  from  the  tenth 
he  became  first  in  rank  among  the 
line  officers  of  the  Regiment.  He 
was  often  in  command  of  the  Regi 
ment,  and  ever  ready  for  duty  It 
was  generally  remarked  in  the  Reg- 


358 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


iment,  that  Captain  Swan  was  always  in  a  fight,  and  always  wounded.  He 
received  five  different  wounds  in  the  service.  At  the  battle  of  Gainesville,  Au 
gust  twenty-eighth,  1862,  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  hip.  At  Fredericks- 
burg  he  was  wounded  by  the  bursting  of  a  rebel  shell  so  near  him  that  the  powder 
is  still  to  be  seen  in  his  face.  At  second  Fredericksburg,  he  was  wounded  by  a 
fragment  of  a  shell  in  the  thigh,  and  at  Gettysburg,  in  July,  1863,  he  was 
wounded  twice,  in  the  breast  and  right  arm,  by  Minnie  balls.  Notwithstanding 
all  these  wounds,  he  was  only  absent  from  his  Regiment  four  months  during 
nearly  three  years'  service. 

After  the  campaign  of  1863,  while  the  Regiment  was  in  winter  quarters,  Captain 
Swan  tendered  his  resignation  on  account  of  the  wound  in  his  hip,  which  made  it 
impossible  to  keep  with  the  Regiment  on  long  marches.  He  could  not  endure 
the  thought  of  being  iinder  pay  and  a  nominal  soldier,  while  he  was  unable  to 
participate  in  the  fighting.  His  life  had  been  earnest,  and  with  him,  shirking 
was  a  crime.  His  resignation  was  reluctantly  accepted.  He  has  since  been  hon 
ored  with  a  commission  as  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel,  for  "  faithful  and 
meritorious  services,"  and  no  brevet  could  be  more  worthily  bestowed. 


MAJOE  JOHN  W.  YOUNG 


WAS  born  in  Springfield,  Otsego 
county,  N.  Y.  He  was  reading  law 
in  that  town,  when  he  entered  the 
service  in  September,  1861.  One  of 
the  first  companies  mustered  into 
the  Otsego  Regiment  was  from  his 
native  town.  With  this  company  he 
enlisted,  and  was  very  active  in  aid 
ing  its  organization,  and  was  after 
wards  chosen  its  Captain.  He  had 
no  military  knowledge,  but  his  pop 
ularity  among  the  boys  secured  him 
this  honorable  and  responsible  posi 
tion.  In  January,  1863,  his  company 
was  consolidated  with  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  and  he  remained 
a  member  of  it  until  he  was  mustered  out  of  service,  March  fourteenth,  1865,  hav 
ing  been  in  the  service  about  three  and  a  half  years.  The  Regiment,  as  a 
Regiment,  had  been  mustered  out  previous  to  this  time,  but  at  the  time  it  was 
mustered  out,  he  was  a  prisoner  of  war. 
During  the  three  and  a  half  years  of  his  service,  he  was  in  every  battle  in  which 


MAJOR  JOHN  "W.  YOUNG.  359 

his  Regiment  was  engaged,  up  to  May  fifth,  1864,  when  he  was  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.  He  was  twice  wounded,  twice  captured,  and  twice  his  name  appeared 
among  the  killed.  At  the  second  Bull  Run,  when  his  Division  was  routed,  Au 
gust  twenty-ninth,  1862,  he,  with  Lieutenant  Story,  succeeded  in  bringing  off 
about  fifty  of  the  men,  and  a  few  of  the  wounded.  After  an  unsuccessful  search 
until  after  midnight  for  their  Regiment,  they  moved  back  a  short  distance  from 
the  enemy's  line,  placed  out  a  guard,  and,  nearly  exhausted  with  two  days'  and 
two  nights'  hard  marching  and  desperate  fighting,  stretched  themselves  upon  the 
ground  for  a  few  hours'  rest.  At  break  of  day,  men  were  sent  out  to  find  the 
Brigade,  but  it  had  been  so  badly  scattered,  that  only  a  few  of  its  men  could  be 
found  together.  The  Colonel  was  at  last  found,  and  the  regimental  call  sounded, 
and  these  men  formed  a  nucleus  around  which  the  Regiment  was  soon  gathered. 

At  the  battle  of  Antietam,  September  seventeenth,  1862,  he  had  command  of 
his  Regiment,  although  he  was  then  the  eighth  ranking  Captain,  all  those  out 
ranking  him  being  absent  on  account  of  sickness,  wounds  or  capture.  At 
Gettysburg,  July  first,  1863,  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  He  remained 
a  prisoner  until  the  fifth,  when  he  was  left  by  the  enemy,  on  account  of  the  sever 
ity  of  his  wounds.  During  the  fourth  of  July,  he  lay  in  a  house  between  the  two 
opposing  picket  lines,  and  within  hailing  distance  of  either.  Fortunately,  how 
ever,  the  firing  during  the  day  was  carried  on  with  small  arms  only,  the  balls  from 
which  could  not  penetrate  the  walls  of  the  brick  house  in  which  he  lay. 

He  was  unable  to  rejoin  his  Regiment  until  October  fifth,  at  which  time  his 
wound  had  become  so  nearly  healed  that  he  was  able  to  resume  his  command. 
Just  after  he  was  wounded,  he  received  the  commission  of  Major,  and  when  he 
rejoined  his  Regiment,  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that  position.  In  Novem 
ber  following,  he  had  command  of  his  Regiment  at  the  battle  of  Mine  Run,  and, 
as  he  had  previously  done  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  commanded  it  with  great 
skill.  At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  fifth,  1864,  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
Colonel  Cook  had  been  wounded  early  in  the  action,  and  the  Major,  at  the  time 
he  was  captured,  had  command  of  the  Regiment,  and  was  at  the  front  trying  to 
rally  and  urge  on  his  men.  The  capture  was  a  great  surprise  to  him.  The  enemy 
had  forced  back  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  New  York,  which  was  on 
the  immediate  left  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  the  pine  thicket  in  which  they  were 
fighting,  was  so  dense  he  did  not  discover  that  the  left  flank  of  his  Regiment  had 
been  turned,  until  the  enemy  appeared  in  his  rear,  in  a  little  ravine.  The  fight 
had  become  a  hand  to  hand  encounter.  Those  at  the  front  and  left  of  the  ravine 
cut  off  from  the  main  part  of  the  Regiment,  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  whose  fire 
was  concentrated  upon  them  from  all  points,  were  compelled  to  surrender.  The 
loss  of  the  Regiment  was  very  heavy.  The  Major  was  slightly  wounded  just  be 
fore  he  surrendered.  After  he  was  captured  he  was  first  taken  to  Orange  Court 
House,  and  from  there  to  Gordons ville  the  next  day,  and  then  to  Lynchburg 
where  he  was  confined  some  two  weeks.  He  was  afterwards  confined  in  prison 
at  Danville,  Augusta,  Macon,  Charleston,  Columbia,  Charlotte,  Raleigh  and  Golds- 
boro.  He  was  also  confined  in  several  different  jails,  the  longest  period,  at  one 
time  being  seventeen  days  in  the  Charleston  jail. 


360 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


During  the  two  and  a  half  months  he  was  confined  at  Charleston,  he  was  with 
the  six  hundred  officers  who  were  placed  there  under  fire. 

At  Columbia  he  succeeded  in  making  an  escape,  November  twenty-eighth,  but 
after  traveling  about  three  hundred  miles  in  nearly  a  direct  line,  he  was  recap 
tured  and  returned  to  prison  December  twenty-sixth,  having  been  absent  four 
weeks  and  one  day.  He  was  obliged  to  travel  in  the  night  time,  to  prevent  being 
discovered  by  the  rebels.  The  negroes  supplied  him  with  provisions,  until  he  got 
into  the  mountains,  where  there  were  no  negroes  kept ;  then  he  was  obliged  to 
go  to  the  house  of  a  white  man  for  food,  and  was  recaptured  by  him,  and  conse 
quently  returned  to  prison.  He  was  eight  days  returning,  during  which  time  he 
was  frequently  placed  in  jails  for  safe  keeping  over  night,  when  the  party  who  had 
him  in  charge  halted.* 

March  first,  1865,  he  was  paroled,  and  the  same  day  arrived  at  Wilmington,  N. 
C.,  and  on  the  fourteenth  was  discharged  at  Annapolis,  on  account  of  his  Regi 
ment  having  previously  been  mustered  out  of  service. 

He  is  now  engaged  practicing  law,  in  Coopers  town,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y. 


SUKGEON  JUDSON  C.  NELSON 


WAS  born  in  the  town  of  Dauby, 
Tompkins  county,  New  York,  June 
third,  1834.  He  was  the  son  of  a 
Baptist  clergyman,  in  moderate  cir 
cumstances,  with  a  large  family,  and 
it  was  only  through  his  own  per 
sonal  efforts,  and  natural  energetic 
character,  that  he  acquired  a  tolera 
ble  early  education,  being  obliged 
to  work  on  a  farm  during  the  sum 
mer  seasons,  and  going  to  school  or 
teaching  in  winter. 

In  the  spring  of  1845,  he  com 
menced  a  course  of  literary  and 
medical  reading,  under  the  tutelage 
of  that  eminent  physician  and  surgeon,  Professor  Thomas  Spencer,  of  Geneva, 
which  he  continued  for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  graduated  at  the  Geneva 
Medical  College,  in  January,  1848.  In  March,  1848,  he  commenced  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  surgery  in  Truxton,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  has 
been  successful  as  a  practitioner,  and  highly  honored  by  the  community  in 
which  he  lives. 


*A  full  account  of  his  escape  and  recapture  is  published  in  "Prison  Life,  in  the  South,"  by  Lieu 
tenant  A.  0.  Abbott.    Published  by  Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 


SURGEON  JUDSON  C.  NELSON.  361 

Politically,  Dr.  Nelson  has  always  identified  himself  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  Member  of  Congress,  in  the  Twenty-third 
Congressional  District,  in  1860,  when  he  received  a  very  handsome  complimentary 
vote  in  his  own  locality.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  took  decided 
ground  in  favor  of  the  war  for  the  Union,  and  as  early  as  April,  1861,  commenced 
enlisting  men  for  the  volunteer  army,  and  when  it  was  decided  by  the  original 
movers  to  organize  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  he  promised  that  his  town  should 
raise  a  company  of  men  for  it,  and  he  faithfully  redeemed  his  pledge.  He  went 
before  the  State  Military  Examining  Board,  at  Albany,  October  eleventh,  1861, 
was  passed  as  full  surgeon,  and  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  Regiment  then  forming 
at  Cortland,  (not  numbered),  by  the  Surgeon-General  of  the  State,  and  was  mus 
tered  into  the  United  States  service  November  eleventh,  1861. 

During  the  first  months  there  was  a  great  amount  of  sickness  in  the  Regiment, 
due  in  a  great  degree  to  the  sudden  change  of  the  men  from  civil  to  camp  life,  and 
change  of  climate.  Hospital  stores  and  conveniences  were  not  very  abundant, 
and  the  Surgeons  duties  were  very  arduous  and  perplexing.  Nevertheless  they 
were  discharged  with  a  spirit  of  fidelity  and  humanity  by  the  Doctor,  that  was 
highly  commendable,  until,  in  consequence  of  his  own  failing  health,  after  a 
severe  illness  common  to  the  climate,  he  was  obliged  on  the  eleventh  of  July, 
1862,  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  to  resign  his  position  in  the  Regiment  altogether, 
and  return  to  his  home,  as  the  medical  officers  of  his  Division,  and  himself  be 
lieved,  a  confirmed  invalid. 

After  spending  some  time,  however,  at  Avon  Springs,  in  the  Genesee  Valley, 
he  so  far  recovered  his  lost  health  that  he  returned  to  Washington  early  in  Janu 
ary,  1863,  and  by  special  contract  with  the  Surgeon-General  of  the  United  States, 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  a  medical  officer  in  the  United  States  General  Hospital 
Department  at  Washington,  in  which  capacity  he  occupied  several  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  He  served  first  as  ward  physician  in  Trinity  General 
Hospital,  until  its  discontinuance  in  April,  1863.  Then  in  Mount  Pleasant  Gene 
ral  Hospital  until  December,  1863,  when  he  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Regular 
Army  Post  Hospital,  at  Old  Fort  Washington,  on  the  Potomac,  opposite  Mount 
Vernon,  where  he  remained  until  the  following  April,  when  he  was  relieved  by 
the  regular  Surgeon  of  the  Post,  who  had  been  assigned  to  other  duty.  After 
being  relieved  at  Fort  Washington,  he  was  ordered  to  Finley  General  Hospital, 
and  put  in  charge  of  three  surgical  wards,  where  a  large  amount  of  operative 
surgery  devolved  upon  him,  and  where  he  remained  (with  the  exception  of  two 
weeks  on  duty  with  Surgeon  Antisell,  attending  sick  and  wounded  officers),  until 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  in  November,  1864. 

On  retiring  from  the  hospital,  the  Doctor  received  the  public  thanks  of  the 
Surgeon  in  charge,  for  his  faithful  attendance  to  duty,  and  from  the  inmates  of 
his  wards  a  very  valuable  case  of  amputating  and  general  operating  instruments, 
as  a  testimonial  of  their  appreciation  of  his  services  in  their  severe  trials  and 
afflictions. 


862  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

After  leaving  the  service,  the  Doctor  resumed  his  old  practice  in  Truxton, 
Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  still  remains. 


SUKGEON  GEOEGE  W.  METCALFE 

WAS  born  July  twenty-second,  1837,  at  Owego,  Tioga  county,  New  York,  but  at 
the  age  of  two  years  removed  with  his  parents  to  Clarkesville,  in  the  same  State, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  childhood.  lie  received  a  liberal  education 
and  in  1854  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father,  Dr.  A.  E.  Metcalfe. 
After  thoroughly  pursuing  the  proper  preliminary  studies,  in  1855  he  commenced 
a  course  of  lectures  at  the  New  York  University  Medical  College,  and  graduated 
at  the  age  of  twenty.  But  the  laws  of  New  York,  while  they  do  not  prevent  the 
practice  of  medicine  by  those  who  never  studied  it,  requires  those  who  do,  to  at 
tain  the  age  of  twenty-one  before  commencing  practice.  He,  therefore  employed 
the  interval  before  attaining  his  majority  in  more  thoroughly  preparing  himself 
for  his  profession,  and  attending  an  additional  course  of  lectures.  In  1858  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  father,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Clarkesville.  In  the  winter  of  1861  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nannie  Wickham,  of 
that  place,  and  removed  to  Erie,  Pa.  He  had  hardly  commenced  practice  there, 
when  the  fall  of  Sumter  inaugurated  the  war,  and  he  felt  that  his  country  called 
for  him.  He  passed  a  favorable  examination  before  the  Examining  Board  at 
Albany,  and  on  the  thirteenth  of  September  received  the  commission  of  Surgeon, 
and  orders  to  report  at  Cherry  Valley,  where  a  Regiment  was  being  organized, 
with  the  Thirty-ninth  Militia  as  a  nucleus.  At  the  consolidation  with  the  Seven 
ty-sixth  Regiment,  Dr.  Metcalfe  preferred  to  accept  an  Assistant-Surgeonship 
with  the  Regiment,  many  of  whose  officers  were  his  personal  friends,  and  whose 
men  were  the  bone  and  sinew  of  Otsego,  dear  to  him  from  his  infajicy,  to  Surgeon 
with  another  Regiment.  In  this  capacity  he  served  until  July  thirtieth,  1862, 
when  Dr.  Nelson,  whose  health  had  been  such  that  he  was  unable  to  accompany 
the  Regiment  to  the  field,  resigned,  and  Dr.  Metcalfe  was  promoted  to  Surgeon. 
He  participated,  with  his  Regiment,  in  all  the  important  battles  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  after  the  return  from  the  Peninsula,  with  the  single  exception  of  the 
first  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  he  having  been  left  in  charge  of  the  wounded  after 
the  battle  of  Autietam.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  but  liberated  on 
the  retaking  of  the  town  by  our  troops.  During  the  bombardment,  a  shell  ex 
ploded  in  the  room  where  he  was  performing  an  amputation  of  the  shoulder  joint. 
In  the  winter  of  1863,  he  was  appointed  Surgeon  in  charge  of  Division  Hospital, 
which  position  he  resigned  in  the  spring,  ^to  accept  that  of  Brigade  Surgeon  on 
the  staff  of  the  lamented  General  Rice,  and  remained  on  that  of  his  successor, 
General  Hofmann,  until  mustered  out  of  service  with  his  Regiment. 

Dr.  Metcalfe  is  a  young  man  of  skill  and  experience.      His  present  residence  is 
Owego,  N.  Y. 


ADJUTANT  H.  F.  EOBINSON. 
CHAPLAIN  II.  STONE  EICHAEDSON. 


363 


WHEN  the  war  first  broke  out, 
this  eloquent  advocate  of  human 
rights  was  engaged  as  minister  at 
New  York  Mills,  Oneida  county,  N. 
Y.  Having  formerly  preached  in 
Cortland  county,  his  preferences 
naturally  centered  upon  a  regiment 
including  so  many  of  his  former 
parishioners  and  friends.  A  man  of 
indomitable  will,  burning  eloquence, 
and  undoubted  patriotism,  Mr. 
Richardson  rendered  most  efficient 
service  in  the  organization  of  the 
Regiment. 

The  following  letter,  in  response 
to  one  of  inquiry  by  the  writer,  gives  an  idea  of  the  Chaplain's  early  history : — 

A.P.  SMITH,  ESQ.  :— 

Dear  Sir :— You  ask  me  to  give  you  for  publication,  a  brief  biography  of  my  life.  I  thank  you 
for  that  word,  "brief."  for  at  the  very  best  I  have  only  time  to  say,  that  I  was  born  in  the  year 
1828,  in  the  town  of  Nelson  Madison  county,  N.  Y.  By  dint  of  hard  work.  1  prepared  myself 
for  college,  and  was  ready  to  enter  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  At  this  time  I  (through  the  influ 
ence  of  mistaken  friends),  changed  my  mind,  and,  going  south,  engaged  a  school  in  Charleston, 
S.  C.  Here  I  did  well  pecuniarily,  and  was  enabled  to  gratify  my  born  love  for  sight-seeing  and 
travel.  Three  years  1  spent  in  travel,  visiting  most  of  the  islands  of  the  Atlantic,  ami  spending 
eleven  months  in  the  south  of  France,  among  the  islands  of  the  Mediterranean,  and  in  Italy. 
I  returned  to  Texas,  and  while  engaged  as  teacher  in  Galveston,  I  volunteered  to  go  out  on 
the  frontier  to  tight  the  Indians  and  Mexicans,  who  were  committing  depredations  on  the  bor 
der  of  the  State.  I  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Yuno  liiver,  and  was  discharged  after  six 
months'  service. 

At  this  time,  1848,  with  a  company  of  twelve  men,  I  commenced  the  difficult  enterprise  of 
crossing  this  continent  on  mule  back,  without  a  guide  or  path,  to  California.  Six  months  found 
me  a  resident  of  Mariposa  county,  and  one  of  the  nrst  squatters  on  the  claim  known  as  Colonel 
Fremont's.  At  the  expiration  of  about  two  years,  I  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
from  Mariposa  county.  At  the  close  of  that  session  I  came  home  to  Madison  county. 

In  1853  I  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  in  1864  commenced  the  active  work  of  the  glorious 
ministry  of  Christ,  in  which  work  I  was  engaged,  when  treason  stretched  out  its  bloody  hand, 
to  roll  us  backward  a  thousand  years  into  abysmal  barbarism. 

In  relation  to  my  eftbrts  to  raise  and  organize  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  and  the  amount 
and  character  of  my  labor  as  Chaplain  in  that  Regiment  for  about  two  years,  you  are  well  in 
formed,  without  any  statement  from  me.  Grand  old  Seventy-sixth  !  Thy  dead  are  walking 
above  the  stars  !  Thy  living  have  palaces  in  the  hearts  of  the  American  people  ! 

Use  as  much  or  as  little  of  this  biography  (written  in  twenty  minutes),  as  you  please.  I  have 
no  fear  but  I  shall  be  JUSTLY  named,  if  named  at  all,  in  your  History  of  the  Seventy-sixth. 

Very  Truly  Yours,  H.  STONE  RICHARDSON. 

No  one  ever  connected  with  the  Regiment  will  forget  the  genial  nature  of  the 
Chaplain,  or  his  readiness  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  a  comrade  in  distress. 


ADJUTANT  HEMAN  F.  EOBINSON, 

SON  of  Heman  and  Betsey  Robinson,  was  born  on  the  thirtieth  of  September, 
1827,  at  Bennington,  Vermont.  Descended  from  Revolutionary  sires,  and  sur 
rounded  by  reminiscences  and  mementoes  of  the  battle  of  Bennington,  his  young 


364 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


mind  was  early  imbued  with  a  pat 
riotic  fervor  and  love  for  his  country 
and  its  glorious  flag,  which  caused 
him  to  be  an  early  and  earnest  vol 
unteer  in  its  service,  soon  after  the 
opening  of  the  great  rebellion.  His 
early  education  was  of  the  character 
at  that  time  provided  in  the  common 
schools  and  academies  of  his  native 
town.  His  mind  partaking  of  the 
roving  clement,however,  he  confined 
himself  to  dry  and  tedious  studies, 
and  being  an  orphan,  with  no  rela 
tive  or  guardian  to  oppose  his 
wishes,  he  embarked,  at  the  age  of 
fourteen,  as  a  common  sailor,  on  board  the  good  ship  St.  Nicholas,  bound  from 
New  York  to  Havre,  France.  Too  young  to  bear  without  disgust  the  roughness 
and  privations  of  the  life'of  a  common  seaman,  he  returned  home  at  the  end  of  a 
few  months,  and  quietly  settled  down  to  the  life  of  a  farmer ;  not,  however,  with 
out  making  several  subsequent  attempts  to  get  to  China  or  Valparaiso,  which 
were  only  prevented  by  promises  of  an  appointment  to  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  upon  the  list  of  applicants  for  which  his  name  was  soon  after  placed 
by  the  Hon.  Solomon  Foot,  Senator  from  Vermont.  But,  finding  the  list  already 
large,  Mr.  Foot  advised  the  acceptance  of  a  cadetship  at  West  Point,  which  was 
gratefully  accepted,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  Mr.  Robinson  received  his  appoint 
ment  to  that  position.  By  excessive  and  constant  application  to  his  studies, 
preparatory  to  entering  the  Military  Academy,  he  brought  on  a  severe,  and  appa 
rently  incurable,  attack  of  dyspepsia,  which  obliged  him  to  resign  his  appointment 
at  the  expiration  of  a  few  months,  his  family  physician  having  decided,  upon 
examination,  that  Mr.  Robinson  was  not,  and  never  would  be,  physically  able  to 
bear  the  severe  mental  and  physical  training  of  that  institution.  At  West  Point, 
under  the  daily  drill  of  accomplished  officers,  Cadet  Robinson  soon  excelled  in  all 
the  duties  of  a  soldier,  so  far  as  he  had  been  instructed,  frequently  calling  out  the 
marked  and  public  approval  of  his  commander.  Here  he  learned  the  soldierly 
lessons  of  obedience  and  attention  to  duty,  and  that  those  lessons  were  well 
learned  is  evidenced  by  the  strictness  with  which  he  aimed  to  perform  his  duties 
as  Adjutant  of  this  Regiment. 

Leaving  West  Point  in  the  fall  of  '46,  broken  in  health  and  spirits,  he  returned 
to  his  native  village,  under  the  shadow  of  the  Green  Mountains,  in  hopes  of  re 
cruiting  his  failing  health,  but  to  no  purpose,  and  it  was  only  after  a  long  and 
distressing  course  of  sea-sickness,  on  the  fishing  grounds,  off  the  coast  of  New 
England,  in  the  year  1849,  that  he  finally  mastered  his  complaint,  and  became  able 
to  attend  to  business.  From  this  time  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion, 
Mr.  RoMnson  was  variously  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  civil  engineering,  &c., 


ADJUTANT  HUBERT  CAKFENTEK. 


365 


being  located  most  of  the  time  at  Cortland,  N.  Y.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion,  his  domestic  affairs  precluded  the  possibility  of  carrying  out  his  pur 
pose  of  joining  the  army ;  but  in  the  fall  of  1861,  his  patriotic  fervor  was  not  to 
be  withstood,  and  he  entered  with  his  whole  soul  into  the  organization  of  the 
Seventy-sixth  Regiment.  He  acted  as  Adjutant  until  the  fourth  of  October,  1861, 
when  he  was  mustered  into  the  service  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  A,  being 
the  first  line  officer  mustered  in  the  Regiment.  He  was  immediately  appointed 
Adjutant  of  the  Regiment,  and  mustering  officer,  performing  the  former  duty 
most  of  the  time  until  the  second  day  of  January,  1863,  when  he  resigned  his  com 
mission,  on  account  of  disability,  and  left  the  service.  Whilst  in  the  service, 
Adjutant  Robinson  contracted  a  chronic  affection  of  the  bowels,  which  will  ever 
remain  with  him,  as  a  reminder  of  his  field  service.  He  was  with  the  Regiment 
during  no  engagement  of  any  magnitude,  except  that  at  Fredericksburg,  Va., 
December  thirteenth,  fourteenth,  and  fifteenth,  1862. 

Entering  the  service  purely  from  patriotic  motives,  and  a  sense  of  duty, 
although  through  physical  disability  exempt  by  law,  it  is  due  to  him  to  say,  that 
during  his  connection  with  the  Regiment,  he  was  evidently  actuated  by  no  per 
sonal  ambition,  and  only  sought,  by  precept  and  example,  to  instil  into  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  his  comrades  a  due  appreciation  of  the  duties  and  obligations  of  a 
soldier,  and  the  holiness  of  the  cause  in  which  the  services  of  the  Regiment  were 
enlisted. 


ADJUTANT  HUBEET  CARPENTER* 


then,  if 


WAS  the  son  of  William  Carpenter, 
of  Dryden,  and  was  born  in  DeWitt, 
New  York.  When  the  war  com 
menced,  our  young  hero  was  quietly 
pursuing  his  studies  at  the  Ithaca 
Academy.  Naturally  modest  and  re 
tiring,  but  few  knew  his  worth,  or 
appreciated  his  ability.  Had  he  lived 
he  would  have  become  a  ripe  scholar, 
and  occupied  a  prominent  place 
among  literary  men.  His  love  of 
country  led  him  to  share  the  toils 
and  fferils  of  a  soldier.  He  resolved 
that  his  country  should  first  be  saved, 
he  survived  the  conflict  with  treason,  he  would  again  return  to  his  favor- 


*  Written  by  Key.  Mr.  McDougall.of  Dryden,  N.  Y. 


366  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

ite  studies— Greek,  Latin,  French  and  German.  He  entered  the  service  with 
many  of  the  young  men  from  Dryden,  and  by  his  fidelity  and  talents  soon  rose 
to  share  the  honors  that  awaited  him.  He  enlisted  the  sixteenth  of  September, 
1861,  and  in  November,  1862,  was  promoted  to  Sergeant-Major,  and  in  less  than 
one  month  received  a  Second  Lieutenant's  commission.  In  February,  1863,  was 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant.  His  commission  as  Adjutant  of  the  Kegiment 
is  dated  June  first,  1863,  showing  that  bravery  and  meritorious  conduct  won  for 
him  the  rank  to  which  he  was  justly  entitled.  The  duties  of  his  last  position 
were  pleasing  to  his  tastes,  and  his  exact  mind,  and  well  and  faithfully  did  he  dis 
charge  them  all.  Strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits,  he  was  a  pattern  for  others, 
both  in  civil  and  military  life.  When  a  student  at  McGrawville,  Prof.  Brockett 
said  of  him :— "  He  was  the  best  linguist,  and  the  ablest  mind  in  that  institution." 
In  that  school,  (New  York  Central  College),  he  filled,  for  a  time,  the  position  of 
mathematical  teacher,  with  great  credit.  Nor  was  he  less  honored  as  a  soldier. 
"  There,"  said  his  Colonel  to  a  friend,  in  January,  1864,  (pointing  to  the  Adjutant), 
"  is  the  HEAD  above  all  others,  that  runs  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment.  He  is 
always  at  his  post."  We  venture  to  say  the  War  Department  has  no  clearer  or 
more  exact  monthly  reports  than  those  which  came  from  his  pen.  In  addition  to 
all  his  duties  on  the  field  and  in  camp,  he  kept  in  PHONOGRAPHY,*  or  "short 
hand,"  a  condensed  history  of  the  Regiment — all  its  marches,  skirmishes  and 
battles. 

The  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  has  an  honorable  record,  of  which  its  patriotic 
survivors  may  well  be  proud.  It  was  our  good  fortune  to  mingle  with  the  boys 
while  at  Rappahannock  Station,  and  to  learn  how  they  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
forts  and  into  the  river,  and  then  encamped  on  the  spot  where  a  Union  victory 
had  been  achieved.  Adjutant  Carpenter  was  then  in  the  field  on  duty,  suffering 
from  wounds  received  at  the  ever-memorable  battle  of  Gettysburg.  All  praised 
him,  for  all  loved  him,  and  amid  the  stern  realities  of  war,  learned  his  worth. 
But  few  young  men  among  us  had  such  bright  prospects — few  whose  future  was 
so  promising.  Still,  he  placed  all  on  the  altar  of  freedom,  and  in  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  May  seventh,  1864,  he  gave  his  life  that  his  country  might  live. 
He  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  mortally  wounded,  and  died  the  next  day. 
He  sleeps  with  gallant  comrades  on  the  field  of  the  nation's  greatest  conflict, 
and  where  the  fate  of  the  Republic  and  the  freedom  of  millions  were  so  trium 
phantly  vindicated.  Peace  to  his  ashes  and  joy  to  his  soul !  His  horse  escaped, 
and  by  Lieutenant  Burnham  was  brought  to  his  father's  house,  and  will  be  kindly 
cared  for,  though  every  view  of  the  favorite  animal  will  bring  before  the  father 
and  mother,  and  beloved  sisters,  the  fallen  rider — the  patriot  son  and  brother. 
Many  of  his  letters  show  that  although  he  made  no  public  profession  of  religion, 
he  had  faith  in  God  and  the  cau|e  for  which  he  freely  gave  his  young  life.  "Many 
of  us,"  said  he,  "may  fall,  but  God,  who  is  ever  true,  is  pledged  to  defend  the 
right.  Our  cause  is  just  and  must  prevail." 

*Written  out  to  March,  1863,  for  this  work,  by  H.  Perry  Smith,  Journal  Office,  Syaacuse,  N.  Y. 


SERGEANT-MAJOR  THOMAS  MARTIN. 


367 


LIEUTENANT  U.  A.  BUENHAM,  Q.  M., 


WAS  born  in  Homer,  N.  Y.,  De 
cember  sixteenth,  1837.  His  fath 
er's  name  was  Marvin  Burnham,  and 
his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Caro 
line  Webster.  His  great  grandfather, 
John  Burnham,  was  wounded  in  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  his  two  great 
grandfathers  on  his  mother's  side,  Se- 
lah  Bacon  and  Samuel  Webster,  were 
both  in  the  revolutionary  war.  The 
latter,  disguised  as  an  Indian,  assisted 
in  making  tea  of  an  English  ship-load 
in  Boston  Harbor,  and  was  with  Gen 
eral  Gates  at  Burgoyne's  surrender,  at 
Saratoga.  At  the  time  of  his  enlistment,  Lieutenant  Burnham  was  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  school,  with  academical  training  at 
Cortland  Academy.  He  had  also  taught  district  school.  He  spent  nearly  three 
years  west,  engaged  in  teaching.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  D,  October 
fourth,  1861,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  Regiment,  was  made  First  Sergeant. 
He  held  this  position  until  February,  1863,  when  he  received  a  commission  as  First 
Lieiitenant,  and  was  soon  after  appointed  Acting  Regimental  Quartermaster,  by 
Colonel  Wainwright.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  been  on  every  march  and  in  every 
battle  with  the  Regiment,  and  fortunately  escaped  unhurt.  Of  about  seventy 
muskets  left  in  the  Regiment  after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  he  carried  one.  In 
January,  1864,  he  was  appointed  A.  C.  M.  of  the  Brigade,  and  occupied  the  posi 
tion  until  March  following,  when  the  Regiment  was  transferred  to  the  Second 
Brigade.  He  was  then,  for  a  short  time,  Acting  Assistant  Quartermaster  of  the 
Second  Brigade.  On  the  first  of  December,  1864,  he  was  discharged  on  expiration 
of  enlistment.  With  the  exception  of  two  leaves  of  absence  of  ten  days  each, 
Lieutenant  Burnham  was  never  absent  from  duty  but  two  days  during  the  three 
years,  and  his  attention  to  business  was  proverbial.  His  post-office  address  is 
Homer,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y. 


SEEGEANT-MAJOE  THOMAS  MAETIN 


WAS  born  at  Newbridge,  Ireland,  November  eighteenth,  1842.  Enlisted  into  the 
Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  from  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  as  a  private  in 
Company  B,  in  November,  1861.  He  was  a  young  man  of  energy  of  character, 


368 


THE  SEVENTY- SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


and  his  gentlemanly  deportment  and 
bravery  soon  won  the  esteem  of 
both  officers  and  men  in  the  Regi 
ment.  He  was  promoted  at  different 
times,  until  he  was  made  Sergeant- 
Major,  and  was  recommended  to  a 
Lieutenantcy.  He  was  ever  ready 
to  perform  his  duty.  At  the  fearful 
but  glorious  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  after  Ma 
jor  Grover  had  fallen,  and  when  an 
nihilation  was  staring  the  brave 
Regiment  in  the  face,  Sergeant-Ma- 
jor  Martin  was  struck  by  a  ball 
which  entered  his  arm  and  side. 
Our  troops  soon  fell  back,  and  the  ground  was  occupied  by  the  enemy.  As  some 
of  our  men,  taken  prisoners,  were  passing  over  the  field  that  night,  they  heard 
the  voice  of  the  Sergeant-Major  calling  for  water.  It  was  given  him,  but  as  he 
drank  the  cooling  draught,  it  flowed  from  the  wound  in  his  side.  After  lingering 
twenty-four  hours  he  died.  He  was  conscious  he  could  not  live ;  told  his  com 
rades  he  was  willing  to  die  for  his  country,  and  requested  them  to  inform  his 
parents.  He  breathed  his  last  towards  morning,  July  second,  1863.  His  com 
rades  buried  him  where  he  fell  and  died,  and  then  wrote  his  father,  as  he  requested 
them.  John  C.  Ross,  EsqM  of  Utica,  shortly  after  visited  the  fated  field,  and 
removed  the  body  to  the  rural  cemetery  at  New  York  Mills,  where,  amid  the 
scenes  of  his  childhood,  the  brave  hero  sleeps  until  the  resurrection  morning. 
No  better  record  can  be  left  of  this  young  hero,  who  arose  from  private  to  ser 
geant-major,  with  a  recommend  for  a  commission,  than  the  letter  written  to  his 
parents  the  spring  before  his  death,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract: — 

HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTY-SIXTH  N.  Y.  S.  VOLS.,  March  14th,  18G3. 
DEAR  PARENTS  :— 

I  have  just  received  yours  of  the  9th  tnst.,  and  was  very  glad  to  hear  that  you  were  well,  and , 
as  I  suppose,  still  at  work ;  but  I  am  not  at  all  pleased  with  its  tone.  You  seem  very  uneasy  at 
my  situation.  Perhaps  it  is  my  fault  for  using  some  words  in  my  last,  which  I  might  have  left 
out,  and  yet  have  expressed  the  same  meaning.  You  seem  to  think  that  I  am  very  fearful  of  my 
destiny,  and  that  I  can  never  see  you  again ;  but  I  can  very  candidly  assure  you  such  is  not  the 
Case.  I  never  had  any  more  hope  than  I  have  at  present.  I  look  at  this  exactly  in  this  light  :— 
Every  man  was  born  for  some  purpose,  and  if  it  is  my  lot  to  leave  earth  on  the  battle-field,  I  can 
only  say,  as  did  Burns:—"  Lord,  give  me  grace  to  endure  it."  For,  should  I  stay  at  home  and 
see  others  fighting  that  I  might  enjoy  privileges  equal  to  them,  I  should  be  a  coward  indeed,  and 
In  after  life  I  should  have  a  conscience  more  guilty  than  Cain's.  Should  I  remain  at  home  at 
times  like  the  present,  and  find  security  only  in  the  blood  of  others,  I  \vouldbe  a  coward,  in 
deed.  No,  tar  rather  would  I  die,  or  oe  crippled  for  life,  for  in  after  life  I  will  ask  no  greater 
honor  than  to  have  it  said  of  me  that  I  once  belonged  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Should  it 
be  my  happv  lot  to  survive  this  rebellion,  my  friends  and  companions  can  only  be  the  manly 
volunteer,  think  not  that  I  dread  a  coming  battle.  Glad  would  I  be  could  we  be  a  united  people 


without  again  meeting  in  deadly  combat  ;  but  such  cannot  be,  so  I,  at  present,  await  my  fate 
lmly.    Be  that  as  it  may,  I  beseech  you  give  yourself  as  little  concern  as  possible.     At 

need  all  your  thoughts,  and  thinking  can  do  T 
r  me.    If  you  had  another  son  capable  of  bearing  arms,  my  advi 
—  "  Come  on  !  and  if  thy  brother  fall,  avenge  his  enemies  ;   not  stand  back 
0 


very  calmly.    Be  that  as  it  may,  I  beseech  you  gi 

tend  to  your  family  ;  they  need  all  your  thoughts,  and  thinking  can  do  THEM  good—  it  can  do 
very  little  for  me.    If  you  had  another  son  capable  of  bearing  arms,  my  advice  to  him  would  be 

and  hear  his  blood 
calling  for  vengeance. 


I  am  daily  growing  more  rabid,  as  I  think  of  the  rebellion,  and  of  the  noble  slain.  I  have  long 
Bince  forgot  to  call  the  rebel  States  "  wayward  sisters  ;"  it  is  too  mild  a  term.  The  only  way  I 
can  give  utterance  to  my  feelings,  is,  "  Traitors,  die !"  Be  not  uneasy  about  me,  I  say  again,  for 
I  have  a  duty  to  perform,  and  I  will  endeavor  to  perform  it,  come  what  will. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  H.  EIPLEY.  369 

CAPTAIN  HEKSHEL  W.  PIEKCE 

WAS  born  in  Reading,  Steuben  coun 
ty,  (now  Starkey,  Yates  county,  N. 
Y.,)  November  fourteenth,  1818.  His 
father,  Samuel  Pierce,  was  a  native  of 
Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812.  His  mother's  name 
was  Sally  Maria  Wright,  and  she  was 
born  in  Litchfleld  county,  Connecti 
cut.  The  Captain  was  educated  a 
farmer,  and  followed  it  until  his  twen 
tieth  year.  He  then  turned  his  atten 
tion  to  architecture  and  building,  in 
which  he  has  since  been  engaged.  He 
was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant 
of  artillery  in  a  company  attached  to  the  Two  Hundred  and  Sixth  New  York  State 
Militia,  by  Silas  Wright,  when  Governor.  He  has  filled  several  civil  offices,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  enlistment  was  Supervisor  of  his  town.  In  October,  1861,  he 
recruited  twenty-five  men,  and  took  them  to  Cortland,  and  with  his  men  was 
mustered  in  as  private.  He  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  January  thir 
teenth,  1862,  to  First  Lieutenant  March  eleventh,  1862,  and  to  Captain,  December 
twentieth,  1862.  He  was  on  detached  duty  in  the  recruiting  service  from  August 
sixteenth  to  December  second,  1862.  He  was  engaged  with  his  Company  in  the 
following  battles :— First  and  second  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettys 
burg,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Tolopoto- 
moy,  Coal  Harbor,  Bethesda  Church,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Poplar  Grove 
Church,  Chapel  House.  He  was  mustered  out  on  expiration  of  term  of  enlist 
ment,  October  tenth,  1864,  at  the  Yellow  House,  Va. 
Captain  Pierce  resides  at  Dundee,  Yates  county,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  H.  EIPLEY 

WAS  a  descendant  of  Revolutionary  patriots.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  his  great 
grandfather  on  his  mother's  side,  entered  the  French  war,  and  subsequently  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  in  which  latter  his  great  grandfather  on  his  father's  side 
was  Chaplain,  and  a  personal  friend  of  General  Washington. 

Lieutenant  Ripley  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  K,  November  first,  1861. 
At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  August  twenty-ninth,  1862,  he  received  a  severe  wound 
in  the  left  shoulder,  the  ball  lodging  near  the  shoulder  blade.  The  next  morning 


3TO 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


he  was  captured  by  the  Sixth  Vir 
ginia  Cavalry.  After  remaining 
prisoner  about  a  week,  with  nothing 
to  eat,  and  no  attention  paid  to  his 
wound,  he  was  paroled,  and  in  that 
condition  walked  to  Alexandria,  a 
distance  of  twenty-eight  miles. — 
From  Alexandria  he  was  sent  to 
Clifbourne  Hospital,  D.  C.,  where 
his  arm  was  amputated  at  the  shoul 
der  joint — a  most  painful  and  dan 
gerous  operation — seven  days  having 
elapsed  since  the  receipt  of  the 
wound.  He  subsequently  received  a 
commission  as  Second  Lieutenant  in 
Company  A,  to  date  from  September  first,  1862.  In  June,  1863,  he  resigned  this 
commission,  and,  in  the  following  September,  was,  on  the  recommendation  of 
General  Doubleday,  commissioned  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  Company  D,  Sixth 
Kegiment  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  which  position  he  held  until  July  thirtieth, 
1866.  At  the  time  of  his  enlistment,  Lieutenant  Ripley  was  a  tinner  by  occupa 
tion,  with  nothing  but  a  common  school  education;  yet,  though  "  expended  in 
the  service,"  in  less  than  a  year  he  had,  by  his  soldierly  qualities,  arisen  from 
private  to  Second  Lieutenant.  His  post-office  address  is  Greene,  Chenango 
county,  N.  Y. 


CAPTAIN  OSCAE  C.  FOX 


WAS  bora  at  Pitcher  Springs,  Che 
nango  county,  N.  Y.,  August  twenty- 
third,  1830.  His  father,  Daniel  Fox, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  his 
mother,  Harriet  A.  Chapman,  of  Con 
necticut.  The  Captain  attended  dis 
trict  school  during  the  winters,  working 
at  home,  and  for  the  neighboring  farm 
ers,  summers,  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  in 
teaching  district  school.  Here  he  suc 
ceeded  admirably  for  one  of  his  age. 
In  1852  he  entered  the  preparatory  de 
partment  of  Central  College  at  Me- 


CAPTAIN  KOBEET  STORY.  371 

Grawville,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1856,  when  he  went  to  Ohio 
as  Principal  of  Nelson  Academy,  in  Portage  county.  He  remained  in  this  posi 
tion  three  years,  his  labors  being  crowned  with  excellent  success.  In  1860  lie  left 
the  Academy  and  returned  home  to  make  arrangements  for  a  tour  of  Europe ;  but 
before  his  departure,  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  changed  his  whole  plan. 
He  determined  to  remain  and  serve  his  country.  In  May  he  proceeded  to  Bing- 
hamton  and  enlisted  in  "Balcom's  six  foot  company,"  remaining  there  about  a 
month ;  but  as  there  was  little  prospect  of  being  mustered  into  service,  he  came 
to  Cortland  and  entered  a  law  office  temporarily,  holding  himself  in  readiness  to 
take  the  field.  When  the  project  of  raising  a  regiment  in  Cortland  county  was 
started,  Captain  Fox  entered  heartily  into  the  work.  Proceeding  to  his  native 
town  he  soon  enlisted  the  minimum  of  a  Company,  and  on  the  first  day  that  the 
camp  was  opened  at  Cortland,  (September  twenty-sixth,  1861),  he  proceeded  with 
about  forty  men  to  the  rendezvous.  He  remained  with  the  Regiment  until  he 
received  his  wound  at  Gainesville.  For  several  mouths  he  commanded  at  Fort 
Slemmer,  D.  C.,  it  being  occupied  by  his  company  (B)  only.  At  the  battle  of 
Gainesville,  August  twenty-eighth,  1862,  Company  B  was  at  the  angle  where  the 
rebel  fire  was  the  most  severe.  While  urging  his  men  on,  Captain  Fox  received 
a  ball  in  the  breast,  which  passed  through  his  lung.  It  was  a  terrible  and  danger 
ous  wound — one  from  which  he  can  never  fully  recover.  The  fall  of  the  Captain, 
whom  the  company  idolized,  created  some  unsteadiness  for  a  moment,  but  they 
immediately  recovered,  and  the  rebels  paid  dearly  for  the  cruel  shot  they  had 
given  the  Captain.  It  is  no  disparagement  to  other  good  officers,  to  say  that  no 
better  combination  of  talent  and  moral  worth  entered  the  large  army  of  Freedom's 
noble  defenders.  Had  he  not  been  crippled  at  the  very  outset  of  his  military 
career,  there  is  no  position  in  the  army  to  which  he  might  not  have  attained. 

When  the  Regiment  left  Fredericksburg  for  Culpepper,  Captain  Fox  was  unfit 
to  march,  but  his  Lieutenants  being  away  on  sick  leave,  he  felt  it  necessary  to 
make  the  attempt.  He  was  put  in  command  of  three  companies  of  skirmishers?, 
and  thus,  regardless  of  his  health,  he  kept  in  the  advance.  With  all  his  heroism 
he  was  extremely  modest.  He  loved  his  men,  and  they  would  have  died  for  him. 
He  says  in  a  communication  to  the  writer  :— 

I  felt  proud  of  these  noble,  faithful  boys.  Uncomplaining,  kind  and  gentlemanly  always.  I 
have  always  felt  that  whatever  success  or  popularity  I  attained  in  the  Regiment  was  owing  to 
these  men  who  always  seemed  to  be  striving  to  assist  and  encourage  me— to  overlook  my  faults 
and  mistakes,  and  to  set  me  right  with  those  who  knew  me  less  intimately.  *  *  Lieuten 
ants  Crandall  and  Wolcott  were  noble  men— invaluable  as  men  of  taste  and  culture— men  of 
principle.  Without  them  I  cannot  conceive  of  such  a  thing  as  success  in  Company  B. 


CAPTAIN  EOBEET  STOEY 

SON  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Story,  was  born  October  seventeenth,  1832.  Until 
he  entered  the  army,  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  A  man  of  character  and  ability, 
he  had  filled  many  civil  offices  in  his  town.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  enter 


372 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


heartily  into  the  work  of  reorganiz 
ing  the  militia  regiment  at  Cherry 
Valley,  for  active  service.  He  was 
chosen  Second  Lieutenant  in  Cap 
tain  Swan's  company,  October  twen 
ty-second,  1861.  On  the  twenty- 
second  of  February,  1862,  he  was 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and 
on  the  nineteenth  of  February,  1863, 
was  commissioned  Captain  "for 
meritorious  conduct  at  South  Moun 
tain,  and  bravery  at  Fredericksburg," 
with  rank  from  December,  1862, 
and  assigned  to  command  of  Com 
pany  B.  These  promotions  were 
unsought  by  him,  and  were  won  by  bravery  and  good  conduct  alone.  He  was 
present  in  every  battle  in  which  his  Regiment  was  engaged  from  the  time  he  en 
tered  the  service,  and  never  shrank  from  the  greatest  dangers  and  most  arduous 
duties.  As  he  entered  the  fight  at  Gettysburg,  July  first,  1863,  a  cannon  ball 
passed  between  his  legs,  doing  no  injury.  He  rushed  on  toward  the  enemy,  and 
before  the  Regiment  had  been  engaged  half  an  hour,  he  was  struck  in  the  left 
thigh  by  a  Minnie  ball  which  fractured  the  bone.  The  ball  was  split  into  three 
pieces,  two  of  which  were  the  same  day  extracted  by  Drs.  Metcalfe,  Preston  and 
Barnes.  He  was  soon  after  removed  to  the  house  of  Mrs.  William  Gulp,  in  Get 
tysburg,  (her  husband  was  also  in  the  army),  where  he  was  kindly  cared  for  by 
her  and  Horace  Fabian,  a  member  of  his  company.  His  wife  and  sister,  (Mrs. 
Bates,  of  New  York),  on  hearing  that  he  was  wounded,  hastened  to  Gettysburg, 
and  remained  with  him,  doing  all  that  was  possible,  until  August  sixth,  when, 
conscious  that  he  was  prepared  to  die,  the  hero  went  home  to  the  hero's  reward. 
His  remains  were  taken  home  and,  by  a  sympathizing  group  of  tearful  neighbors, 
and  the  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  of  which  he  was  a  member,  consigned  to  their 
resting  place  in  the  family  burying  ground  on  the  farm  he  had  been  wont  to  till. 
His  wife  soon  went  to  share  with  him  the  realities  of  the  blissful  hereafter. 


LIEUTENANT  CHAUNCEY  D.  CRANDALL 

WAS  born  in  Pitcher,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  resided  until  his  enlist 
ment  in  the  fall  of  1861.  His  life  of  a  little  more  than  twenty-seven  years,  was 
one  of  very  even  course,  witnessing  few,  if  any,  incidents  which  might  be  consid 
ered  in  any  sense  startling  or  uncommon.  It  was  his  chief  ambition  to  make  the 


LIEUTENANT  W.  STUART  WALCOTT. 


373 


wisest  use  of  a  good  common  sense 
and  to  lead  a  life  of  order,  industry, 
and  virtue.  He  was  a  mild,  obedient 
child;  a  sober,  thoughtful  boy;  a 
modest,  unassuming  youth,  nobly 
shunning  all  those  trifling  and  fool 
ish  habits  which  so  often  sap  the 
foundation  of  an  otherwise  manly 
character.  Nor  did  he  confine  him 
self  to  mere  morality.  About  two 
years  before  his  seemingly  untimely 
death,  he  made  a  public  profession  of 
religion,  and  ever  after  was  a  stead 
fast  and  consistent  Christian.  When 
the  war  commenced,  he  was  pursuing  his  studies  at  the  Cortland  Academy.  But 
as  he  said,  he  could  not  confine  his  mind  to  study,  while  his  country  so  much 
needed  his  services.  He  believed  that  God  would  approve  his  motives,  and 
accept  the  act  as  service  to  Him.  With  this  spirit  he  entered  the  service.  Dur 
ing  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1862,  he  was  disabled  by  disease,  and 
confined  to  a  hospital.  Captain  Fox  having  fallen  at  Gainesville,  the  Lieutenant, 
scarcely  recovered  from  his  sickness,  returned  to  the  command  of  his  Company, 
(B).  His  first  experiences  under  fire  were  at  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  Md., 
with  reference  to  which,  Colonel  Wainwright  says : — 

Although  for  the  first  time  under  fire,  he  faced  the  long  continued  and  destructive  musketry 
of  the  enemy  as  if  he  had  been  in  a  dozen  battles.  And  1  well  remember,  (for  I  marked  it)  the 
coolness  with  which  he  bound  a  handkerchief  around  my  arm  to  stop  the  bleeding,  thereby 
saving  me  from  what  might  have  been  excessive  loss  of  blood. 

In  the  subsequent  part  of  this  battle,  Lieutenant  Crandall  took  command  of  the 
Regiment.  At  Antietam  he  was  wounded  in  the  hand,  so  as  to  unfit  him  for 
service,  and  soon  after  he  was  permitted  to  visit  home  on  a  furlough.  But  before 
he  was  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  called  to  his  post,  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  his  men, 
now  without  a  company  officer,  he  returned  to  his  command,  reaching  the  Regi 
ment  just  before  it  marched  to  Fredericksburg. 

Before  it  had  been  determined  to  publish  these  biographies,  the  facts  relating 
to  the  death  of  this  hero  were  given  at  pages  189  and  190,  to  which  the  reader  is 
referred. 


LIEUTENANT  W.  STUAKT  WALCOTT. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  bom  at  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  county,  N.  T., 
February  eleventh,  1843.  His  parents  were  William  D.  and  EL  C.  Walcott.  One 
of  his  great  grandfathers  was  a  General,  and  the  other  a  Captain  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  war.  His  father  is  largely  engaged  in  manufacturing,  at  New  York  Mills, 


374 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


as  a  partner  of  Honorable  Samuel 
Campbell,  mentioned  in  the  fore 
part  of  this  work.  When  the  war 
broke  out,  Lieutenant  Walcott  then, 
but  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  pur 
suing  his  studies  at  the  high  school, 
at  Clinton,  N.  T.  Descended  from 
such  patriotic  stock,  and  surrounded 
by  such  men  as  Mr.  Campbell  and 
his  father,  the  young  Walcott  could 
scarcely  fail  to  be  a  patriot.  Know 
ing  the  Chaplain  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth,  Walcott  enlisted  a  number  of 
his  young  comrades  and  joined  that 
Regiment.  Possessed  of  fine  per 
sonal  appearance,  well  bred  and  educated,  he  was  immediately  commissioned  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  in  Company  B.  He  remained  with  the  Regiment,  continually 
gaining  friends,  until  the  summer  of  1862,  while  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  he  was 
attacked  with  camp  or  typhoid  fever.  After  a  severe  illness  of  five  months,  the 
surgeon  giving  no  encouragements  for  renewed  health  for  at  least  a  year,  and 
being  unwilling  to  deprive  the  company  of  the  services  of  an  officer  they  so  much 
needed,  he  reluctantly  resigned,  and  was  honorably  discharged  October  thirtieth, 
1862.  The  merits  of  many  an  officer  and  men  are  measured,  not  by  what  they 
did,  but  what  they  wished  to  do.  Had  Lieutenant  Walcott's  health  permitted,  no 
one  knowing  him  will  doubt  that  his  career  would  have  been  brilliant. 

He  is  at  present  engaged  with  his  father  in  manufacturing,  at  New  York  Mills, 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  OAHILL, 

SON  of  Thomas  I.  Cahill,  late  of  Solon,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  whence  his  father  moved  to  Solon,  when  the  Lieutenant  was 
yet  young.  He  enlisted  in  Company  B  at  its  organization,  as  a  private,  having 
been  injured  about  the  time  the  war  broke  out,  so  that  he  was  unable  to  enter  the 
service  before,  as  he  desired.  Ever  present  for  duty,  and  prompt  to  peform  it  he 
did  not  long  remain  in  the  ranks.  When  the  Regiment  left  Fredericksburg  for 
Culpepper,  he  was  sick  and  so  emaciated  that  the  surgeon  directed  him  to  be 
taken  to  a  hospital  in  Washington,  and  sent  an  ambulance  to  his  tent  to  convey 
him  to  the  cars.  But  determined  to  accompany  the  Regiment  and  share  its  first 
dangers,  he  insisted  that  he  was  improving  and  was  able  to  undertake  the  march. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  CAHILL.  375 


The  surgeon  finally  assented.  His 
energy  enabled  him  to  keep  with  his 
company.  He  took  part  in  the  skir 
mishes  at  Rappahannock  Station  and 
Warrenton  Springs,  and  the  battle  of 
Gainesville.  At  the  latter  place  he 
was  struck  by  a  pistol  shot  in  the 
head,  the  ball  entering  and  lodging 
between  the  right  eye  and  nose,  where 
it  still  remains.  It  was  one  of  those 
narrow  escapes  which  partake  largely 

°fthemiraCUl°US-  Hefell'audwas 
reported  dead.  This  fortunately 

proved  incorrect.  He  was  taken 
prisoner,  but  soon  after  paroled.  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  in  New  York, 
where  he  was  tendered  his  discharge.  The  surgeon  informed  him  that  he  would 
never  be  fit  for  service,  but  this  he  steadily  denied.  He  returned  to  the  Regiment 
in  time  to  take  part  in  the  first  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  He  was  soon  after, 
(January  fourteenth,  1863),  promoted  to  Sergeant.  He  remained  with  the  Regi 
ment,  taking  part  in  the  "  Mud  March,"  Second  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville, 
and  Gettysburg.  March  first,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  as 
Buch  fought  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Here  he  displayed  true  heroism.  In  the 
hottest  of  the  fight,  next  to  the  colors  of  the  Regiment,  he  was  struck  by  a  piece 
of  shell  on  the  hand,  which  benumbed  his  arm,  and  rendered  it,  for  a  time,  useless. 
He,  however,  by  rubbing,  induced  a  return  of  sensibility,  when  the  rebels  had 
reason  to  regret  the  provocation  they  had  given.  Immediately  before  the  line  fell 
back,  he  was  struck  in  the  thigh  by  a  musket  ball,  bringing  him  down.  The  ball 
struck  the  bone,  and,  glancing  around,  lodged  on  the  other  side.  He  was  taken 
to  the  city  and  the  ball  extracted.  He  was  captured  by  the  rebels,  and  retaken  on 
our  troops  repossessing  the  city.  He  was  sent  to  Philadelphia,  but  soon 
returned  to  the  command  of  his  company,  as  Second  Lieutenant,  (July  thirty- 
first,  1863),  which  command  he  held  until  March,  1864.  He  was  on  the  march 
with  the  Regiment  southward  through  Virginia,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Mine  Run.  Was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  February  fourteenth,  1863.  At 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  fifth,  1864,  he  was  with  his  company  when  the 
three  companies,  (B,F  and  K),  were  captured.  He  was  on  this  occasion  severely 
wounded.  His  left  arm  was  broken,  and  the  wrist  joint  dislocated,  He  also 
received  a  Minnie  ball  in  his  body,  where  it  still  remains.  In  this  condition  he 
was  compelled  the  next  day  to  walk  twenty  miles.  Two  weeks  later,  on  reaching 
Macon,  Ga.,  having  had  no  change  of  clothing,  he  was  obliged  to  soak  himself 
before  he  could  remove  his  clothes.  Here  the  prisoners  were  all  searched  and 
robbed  of  their  money.  The  bullet  hole  in  the  Lieutenant's  coat  was  now  not 
without  its  uses.  As  the  robbing-sergeant  approached  him,  the  Lieutenant  qui 
etly  slipped  his  greenbacks  through  the  bullet  hole,  and  thus  retained  his  money. 


376  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

Here  he  found  Lieutenant  Myers,  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  and  Lieutenants  Curtis 
and  Coffin,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  New  York,  all  from  Cortland. 
What  these  prisoners  suffered  in  Southern  prison  pens  has  been  so  often  related 
that  to  write  the  experience  of  this  hero,  would  be  to  repeat  the  same  story  of 
cruelties,  starvation,  vermin,  heartless  disregard  of  life,  and  unparalleled  diabo 
lism,  which  puts  to  the  blush  every  loyal  man,  as  he  considers  even  the  possibility 
of  a  return  of  these  barbarous  savagesjx)  the  political  status  of  peers  to  the  loyal. 
Sherman's  successes  before  Atlanta,  and  Stoneman's  advance  towards  Macon, 
rendered  this  an  unsafe  depository  for  prisoners.  They  were  therefore,  July  thir 
ty-first,  1864,  sent  to  Savannah  and  Charleston.  At  the  former  place  Lieutenant 
Cahill  witnessed  one  of  the  peculiar  attractions  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  South 
ern  Confederacy.  It  became  necessary  to  cover  a  trench  of  rubbish  to  prevent 
disease.  A  man  with  a  white  skin  marched  in  fourteen  colored  WOMEN,  who,  with 
spades  and  bare  feet,  and  arms  bare  to  the  shoulder,  were  compelled  to  do  the 
menial  service,  while  the  white  traitor  looked  on  with  whip  in  hand !  At  the  end 
of  six  weeks,  (September  thirteenth),  Lieutenant  Cahill,  with  other  officers,  was 
taken  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  placed  under  fire  from  our  batteries  on  Morris 
Island.  Here  they  were  placed  in  the  filthiest  of  pens,  where  the  shells  from  our 
guns  fell  as  often  as  one  in  twenty  minutes,  often  sending  showers  of  fragments 
among  our  officers.  To  add  to  the  horrors  of  the  situation,  the  yellow  fever 
broke  out  in  the  prison,  and  for  a  time  threatened  the  annihilation  of  the  entire 
company.  Of  fifty  officers  attacked,  but  two  recovered,  one  of  whom  was  Homer 
D.  Call,  of  the  Seventy-sixth.  Our  officers  were  removed  to  Columbia,  S.  C., 
October  fifth,  1864.  An  arrangement  was  finally  made  by  which  a  certain  number 
of  sick  and  wounded  were  exchanged.  Lieutenant  Cahill  was  examined.  The 
surgeon  directed  his  clerk  to  write,  "  five  gunshot  wounds  "  opposite  his  name, 
and  the  next  morning  he  was  discharged.  December  ninth  he  started  on  a  block 
ade  runner  down  the  harbor  for  the  Union  lines.  For  the  first  time  in  many 
months  these  brave  boys  hailed  the  "  red  white  and  blue,"  as  it  floated  in  front  of 
Fort  Sumter.  Cheer  upon  cheer  rent  the  air,  while  "  The  Star  Spangled  Banner," 
and  "  Rally  'Round  the  Flag,  Boys,"  were  sung  as  never  before.  No  one  in  the 
army  had  a  more  varied  experience  than  Lieutenant  Cahill.  Five  times  wounded, 
three  times  a  prisoner,  still  carrying  two  balls  in  his  person,  he  feels  proud  of 
each  scar  received  in  freedom's  battles. 

He  was  discharged  March  eleventh,  1865,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law.   He 
now  resides  at  Minneapolis,  Minnesota. 


LIEUTENANT  A.  LYMAN  CAKTER 

WAS  born  in  Pitcher,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  November  fourteenth,  1829.    His 
parents'  names  Thomas  and  Susan  L.  Carter.      At  the  time  of  his  enlistment, 


LIEUTENANT  MOSES  P.  MAKSH. 


377 


Lieutenant  Carter  was  engaged  with 
his  father  as  a  blacksmith.  He  en 
listed  September  sixteenth,  1861,  as 
Second  Sergeant.  Was  with  his 
company  at  the  battles  of  Rappa- 
hannock  Station,  Warrenton  Springs, 
Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  Second  Fred- 
ericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  Get 
tysburg.  October  twenty-ninth, 
1862,  he  was  commissioned  Second 
Lieutenant  in  Company  B,  vice  Lieu 
tenant  Walcott,  resigned.  At  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  captured 
by  the  rebels,  paroled  and  sent  to 
Annapolis,  Md.  He  remained  there  until  December  fourteenth,  1862,  when  he 
was  exchanged,  and  immediately  rejoined  his  Regiment.  At  the  battle  of  Get 
tysburg,  Pa.,  July  first,  1863,  he  was  wounded  in  the  foot,  the  ball  passing  into 
the  ankle  joint,  where  it  remained  until  April  thirteenth,  1865,  when  his  limb  was 
amputated  below  the  knee.  He  was  mustered  out  in  consequence  of  his  wound, 
October  ninth,  1863.  After  his  return,  and  while  the  Administration  favored 
loyal  Union  soldiers,  Lieutenant  Carter  filled  the  office  of  Post-Master  in  his  na 
tive  village.  His  present  post-office  address  is  Pitcher,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  MOSES  PAEKEE  MAESH, 


ELDEST  son  of  Daniel  B.  and  Mary 
A.  Marsh  was  born  at  McLean, 
Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  January 
tenth,  1841.  At  an  early  age  he  be 
came  an  earnest  student.  He  at 
tended  the  Cortland  Academy  nearly 
three  years.  Also  New  York  Cen 
tral  College.  At  the  age  of  nine 
teen  he  entered  the  Commercial 
College  and  completed  the  course 
with  credit  to  himself.  A  great  ad 
mirer  of  Theodore  Parker,  Ralph 
W.  Emerson,  Wendell  Phillips  and 
Garret  Smith,  he  became  most  em 
phatically  «  radical." 


378  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  C,  but  was  elected  Second  Lieutenant  on 
the  organization  of  his  Company.  While  at  Fort  Slocum  in  the  Spring  of  1862, 
he  acted  as  Adjutant  of  the  post.  On  the  march  to  Fredericksburg,  in  May,  1862, 
he  received  a  partial  sunstroke.  He,  however,  managed  to  keep  with  his  com 
pany,  until  it  reached  Fredericksburg.  Here,  notwithstanding  his  sunstroke,  he 
acted  as  aid  to  the  Provost  Marshal  until  he  was  at  length  sent  to  Lincoln  Hospi 
tal,  Washington  D.  C.  On  arriving  at  the  Hospital  he  was  attacked  with  a  fever. 
He  continued  to  write  his  parents  that  he  was  not  very  sick,  except  a  pain  in  the 
head,  and  that  he  would  soon  be  better.  His  father  finally,  in  September,  1862, 
sent  a  physician  to  Washington  to  ascertain  his  condition.  The  physician  imme 
diately  telegraphed  the  father  that  his  son  was  in  a  low  condition.  The  father 
hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  twelfth  of  September,  started  home  with  his 
son,  arriving  there  on  the  twenty-second.  Friends  vainly  hoped  the  Lieutenant 
had  stood  his  journey  well ;  but  their  hopes  proved  evanescent,  for  on  the  twen 
ty-sixth  of  September,  surrounded  by  friends,  he  breathed  his  last. 


LIEUTENANT  MOSES  M.  WHITNEY 

WAS  born  in  Solon,  (now  Taylor), 
Cortland  county,  October  twenty- 
third,  1840.  His  parents  were  Thad- 
deus  and  Laura  Whitney.  His  grand 
father  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  When 
enlisted,  Lieutenant  Whitney  was  a 
farmer.  He  enlisted  as  private  in 
Company  A,  September  twenty-sixth 
1861 ;  was  promoted  to  Seventh  Cor 
poral  October  fourth,  1861 ;  to  Ser 
geant  January  ninth,  1863 ;  to  First 
Sergeant  October  twenty-first,  1863 ; 
to  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  C, 
March  sixteenth,  1864,  and  command 
ed  the  company  after  crossing  the  James  River  to  move  upon  Petersburg. 
He  was  a  most  excellent  officer.  At  the  battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  August 
eighteenth,  1864,  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  thigh,  fracturing  the 
bone.  He  was  carried  from  the  field  to  a  hospital,  and  was  discharged  December 
fifth,  1864,  having  been  in  the  service  over  three  years  and  three  months.  Lieu 
tenant  Whitney  was  in  the  following  battles,  besides  all  the  skirmishes  in  which 
the  Regiment  was  engaged,  (some  twenty  in  all)  : — Rappahannock  Station, 
Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  First  and  Second  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettys 
burg,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Coal 


LIEUTENANT  THOMAS  F.  WELDON. 


379 


Harbor,  Tolopotomoy,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad.  At  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  remained  in  rebel  hands  six  weeks.  He  was 
never  excused  from  duty  by  a  surgeon  while  in  the  service,  until  wounded,  and 
was  always  ready  for  duty. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Captains  Vanderbilt  and 
Porter,  of  the  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry,  and  went  into  business  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  where  he  now  resides.  See  pages  119  and  120. 


LIEUTENANT  CAELOS  BALDWIN 

WAS  born  in  Groton,  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.,  November  second, 
1840.  He  enlisted  October  fifth, 
1861,  as  a  Corporal  in  Company  C. 
In  July,  1862,  while  encamped  at 
Fredericksburg,  Va.,  he  was  severe 
ly  attacked  with  fever,  and  two 
weeks  thereafter  still  remain  a  blank 
in  his  memory.  On  becoming  con 
scious,  he  found  himself  in  the  hos 
pital  at  Falls  Church.  He  was  soon 
after  removed  to  the  hospital  at 
Philadelphia.  He  rejoined  the  Reg 
iment  in  time  to  take  part  in  the 
battle  of  First  Fredericksburg,  and 
participated  in  all  the  battles  until  the  third  day  of  June,  1864.  At  that  time, 
while  lying  in  the  woods,  he  was  struck  by  a  ball  which  entered  the  right  leg  at 
the  knee,  and  came  out  at  the  thigh  sixteen  months  after.  He  was  taken  to  Arm 
ory  Square  Hospital,^Washington,  where  [he  lay  forty-three  days,  when  he  was 
removed  to  his  home  on  a  stretcher,  by  his  father.  The  ball  remaining  in  his  leg, 
and  there  being  no  prospect  of  his  being  able  to  render  further  service  to  his 
country,  he  resigned  in  November,  1864,  having  been  in  the  service  over  three 
years.  He  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  in  his  company  (C)  January  thir 
teenth,  1864.  He  carries  in  his  pocket  the  ball  that  disabled  him.  His  residence 
is  Peruville,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  THOMAS  F.  WELDON 


WAS  born  at  Little  Falls,  New  York,  in  1839.     His  parents  were  Patrick  H.  Wel 
don  and  Margaret  McGirk  Weldon.     He  enlisted  as  private  in  the  Thirty-ninth 


380  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  BEGIMENT  K  Y.  Y. 

New  York  State  Militia  October 
twenty-first,  1861,  and  joined  the 
Seventy-sixth  New  York,  at  the  con 
solidation  at  Albany.  May  first, 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  and  November  first, 
1863,  to  First  Lieutenant  in  Com 
pany  C,  which  office  he  held  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  won  his 
straps  by  his  good  conduct  and 
brave  deeds.  He  was  wounded  at 
Bull  Run,  August  twenty-ninth, 
1862.  At  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville,  in  May,  1863,  he  was  taken  pris 
oner  and  remained  a  month  in  rebel 
hands.  He  had  scarcely  time  to  reach  the  Regiment,  when  he  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  again  wounded.  When  our  forces  crossed 
the  Rapidan  in  May,  1864,  Lieutenant  Weldon  was  at  his  post,  and  remained  with 
his  comrades  through  all  their  fiery  trials  on  that  unequaled  campaign  from  the 
Rapidan  to  Petersburg,  and  until  death  sealed  up  his  glorious  record.  He  waa 
killed  instantly,  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  August  twenty-first,  1864,  being  pierced 
by  two  balls.  The  officers  and  men,  on  the  same  day,  appointed  a  committee 
consisting  of  Captain  H.  W.  Pierce,  and  Lieutenants  E.  B.  Cochrane  and  J.  M. 
Waterman,  who  drafted  most  flattering  resolutions,  among  which  is  the  fol 
lowing  : — 

KESOLVED,  That  in  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Weldon,  we  have  lost  a  true  friend  and  a  genial 
companion,  the  service  one  of  its  most  courageous  and  thorough  soldiers,  and  the  cause  of  the 
Union  one  of  its  most  loyal  and  patriotic  adherents.  Ever  gentlemanly  and  considerate  in  his 
bearing  towards  every  one  with  whom  he  was  brought  in  contact,  strictly  temperate  in  his 
habits,  always  ready  in  the  performance  of  every  duty,  as  well  while  on  the  staff  of  the  Brigade 
as  while  with  his  Regiment,  and  receiving,  as  he  invariably  did,  the  highest  encomiums  of  his 
superior  officers,  we  feel  his  loss  to  be  an  irreparable  one,  as  well  to  his  country  as  to  his  imme 
diate  associates. 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  his  Captain,  the  day  after  his  death : — 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  FOURTH  DIVISION",  FIFTH  CORPS,  > 

NEAR  PETERSBURG,  August  22d,  1864.          > 
JAMES  DAVENPORT,  ESQ.  :— 

Sir :— It  becomes  my  painful  duty  to  inform  you  of  the  death  of  the  brave  and  lamented  Thom 
as  F.  Weldon,  of  my  Company,  (C)  Seventy-sixth  New  York  Volunteers.  He  was  killed  in  the 
skirmish  line,  while  observing  the  movements  of  the  enemy  whom  we  had  just  repulsed,  cap 
turing  a  portion  of  Haygood's  Brigade,  with  their  colors.  He  was  hit  by  two  shots,  both  passing 
through  his  body,  killing  him  instantly.  He  never  spoke,  and  scarcely  gasped.  Lieutenant 
Weldon  was  one  of  the  Best  and  bravest  officers  I  have  ever  known— ever  ready  to  do  his  duty. 
In  battle  he  was  always  to  be  found  where  the  leaden  hail  fell  thickest.  While  he  was  associ 
ated  with  me  as  a  subaltern  in  my  company,  he  formed  a  friendship  with  me  as  lasting  as  the 
granite  hills,  and  won  my  admiration  and  respect  for  his  brave  and  soldierly  conduct.  His  loss 
is  irreparable  to  the  Regiment,  and  his  comrades  mourn  his  departure  from  our  midst,  as  they 
would  a  brother.  No  larger-souled  patriot  ever  lived.  His  whole  heart  was  in  the  cause,  and 
he  has  ever  expressed  his  willingness  to  die  as  a  soldier  wishes  to  die— "with  his  face  to  the  foe." 

In  the  second  day's  fight  in  the  Wilderness,  he  captured,  by  a  brilliant  movement  of  his  picket 
line,  an  officer  and  ten  men,  and  was  complimented  by  the  Brigade  commander,  in  his  official 
report. 

We  deeply  sympathize  with  his  family  and  friends  at  home,  but  think  the  manner  in  which  he 
died  while  bravely  defending  his  country's  flag,  will  be  a  consolation  to  his  friends. 

I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  A.  WATKINS, 

Captain  Co.  C,  Seventy-sixth  N.  Y.  V, 


CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  M.  BYRAM.  381 

CAPTAIN  CHAELES  L.  WATKOUS, 

SON  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  Watrous,  was  born  in  Freetown,  Cortland  county,  N. 
Y.,  January  thirteenth,  1837.  His  ancestors  were  from  Connecticut,  and  the  Cap 
tain,  at  an  early  age,  displayed  an  ardent  love  for  books.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  commenced  teaching  district  school.  He  taught  during  the  winters  in  his 
native  State,  Pennsylvania  and  Illinois,  and  during  the  summer  attended  school  at 
New  York  Central  College.  His  health  failing  in  1856,  he  went  West  and 
remained  nearly  three  years,  returning  in  1859,  with  improved  health.  He  entered 
Cortland  academy  as  a  student,  and  graduated  with  honor  the  following  year.  In 
the  fall  of  1860  he  entered  the  Junior  class  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  where 
he  was  pursuing  his  studies  when  the  war  commenced.  The  disaster  at  Bull  Run 
in  July,  1861,  determined  his  future  course.  Locking  up  his  books  he  hastened 
home,  raised  a  company,  and  joined  the  Seventy-sixth  at  its  organization.  As  an 
officer,  Captain  Watrous  was  prompt  and  efficient  to  such  an  extent  as  to  incur 
the  censure  of  harshness  from  his  undrilled  neighbor  "boys."  He  labored  zeal 
ously  to  make  his  company  well  drilled  and  strictly  disciplined.  He  was  in 
command  of  his  company  at  Rappahanuock  Station,  Warrenton  Springs,  Gaines 
ville  and  Bull  Run.  In  the  latter  battle,  August  twenty-ninth,  1862,  he  received 
two  gunshot  wounds  in  his  right  thigh,  and  a  Minnie  ball  in  his  left  arm.  The 
ball  passed  entirely  through  the  arm  below  the  elbow,  shattering  the  larger  bone, 
and  injuring  the  nerve,  making  a  severe  and  extremely  painful  wound.  His  arm 
being  useless,  he  was,  on  the  nineteenth  of  December,  1862,  mustered  out  for  dis 
ability.  The  following  February  an  operation  was  performed  upon  the  arm,  at 
Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York  City,  and  a  portion  of  the  bone  removed.  In  the 
autumn  of  1863  the  Captain  returned  to  his  college  studies.  Graduating  soon 
after,  he  entered  the  law  school,  from  which  he  graduated  in  March,  1863.  Soon 
after  the  fall  of  Richmond,  and  collapse  of  the  "man-owners'  "  confederacy,  he 
settled  at  Winchester,  Va. ,  where  he  now  practices  his  profession. 


CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  M.  BYEAM, 

SON  of  Josiah  and  Rhoda  Byram,  was  bora  at  Virgil,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  Au 
gust  thirteenth,  1837.  His  father  commenced  business  in  Virgil  in  1825,  as 
clothier,  and  before  his  death  in  1842,  became  one  of  the  first  men  of  his  town. 
He  was  Colonel  of  a  militia  regiment,  and  filled  many  important  positions.  He 
reared  a  numerous  and  respectable  family  of  children,  of  whom  the  Captain  was 
the  eighth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  a  common  and  select  school 
education,  in  his  native  town,  and  an  academical  course  at  Cortlandville 
Academy.  He  taught  district  school  for  a  number  of  winters  ;  but  hav- 


382 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


ing  a  love  and  aptitude  for  mechan 
ics,  became  a  carpenter.  He  enlisted 
as  private  in  Company  A,  September 
nineteenth,  1861,  but  on  the  organi 
zation  of  the  company  was  made 
First  Sergeant.  He  was  promoted  to 
Second  Lieutenant  March  sixteenth, 
1862 ;  to  First  Lieutenant  September 
first,  1862,  and  to  Captain  of  Com 
pany  D,  December  nineteenth,  1862. 
In  February,  1864,  three-fourths  of 
his  company  re-enlisted,  and  the 
Captain  remained  as  a  veteran  officer. 
While  in  the  service,  Captain  Byram 
was  in  the  following  engagements  :— 
Rappahannock  Station,  Gainesville,  Second  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antietam, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna, 
Coal  Harbor,  Tolopotomoy,  Petersburg.  He  was  sick  in  hospital,  with  typhoid 
fever  from  shortly  after  Antietam,  until  January  following.  After  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Cook  was  wounded,  at  the  Wilderness,  the  command  of  the  Regiment 
devolved  upon  Captain  Byram,  and  he  remained  in  command  through  the  brilliant 
campaign  to  Petersburg,  until  the  eighteenth  day  of  June,  1864,  when  he  received 
a  severe  wound  in  the  groin,  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  from 
which  he  was  honorably  discharged  by  Special  Orders  from  the  War  Department, 
No.  423,  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  November,  1864.  At  the  battle  of  the  Wilder 
ness,  Captain  Byram  distinguished  himself  by  bringing  away  the  colors  of  the 
Regiment,  under  a  most  galling  fire.  The  Captain  has  requested  us  to  "  mention 
"Mr.  Hummers  family,  and  Mrs.  Riley,  of  Harrisburg,  as  my  good  angels  while 
"  in  hospital  there,  for  I  think  I  should  have  died  but  for  their  care ;  and  the  same 
"  of  Miss  Hall,  at  Annapolis." 
The  Captain  resides  at  Virgil,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  M.  WATEEMAJST 

WAS  born  in  the  town  of  Decatur,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  September  eighth,  1833. 
On  his  father's  side,  his  great  grandfather  was  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his 
grandfather  in  the  war  of  1812.  Lieutenant  Waterman  enlisted  into  Company  I, 
September  twenty-seventh,  1861,  under  Captain  John  E.  Cook.  He  was  promoted 
to  Orderly  Sergeant  of  his  compauy  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  January  thirteenth,  1862, 
and  to  Hospital  Steward  at  Fort  Massachusetts,  D.  C.,  May  seventeenth,  1862. 
He  served  in  this  capacity  for  several  months,  but  was  subsequently  commissioned 
First  Lieutenant,  with  rank  from  August  sixth,  1863,  and  assigned  to  duty  in 


LIEUTENANT  EDWARD  D.  YAN  SLYCK.  383 


Company  A.     He  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Mine  Run,  November, 

1863,  and  was  shortly  after  detailed 
as  Acting  Regimental  Quartermas 
ter,  during  the  absence  of  Lieuten 
ant  Burnham  at  headquarters.      At 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May 
fifth,  1864,  Captain  Pierce,  of  Com 
pany  A,  having  become  disabled,  the 
command  devolved  upon  Lieuten 
ant  Waterman,  until  the  latter  part 
of  July.      He  thus  had  command  of 
the  company  through  all  the  battles 
of    Grant's   brilliant   campaign    of 

1864.  August    nineteenth,    1864, 
Company  D  being  without  an  officer,  Lieutenant  Waterman  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  that  company,  which  he  held  until  he  was  mustered  out  on  expira 
tion  of  term  of  enlistment,  October  twelfth,  1864.     An  idea  of  his  faithfulness 
may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that  he  was  with  the  Regiment  every  day  after  it 
broke  camp  at  the  Wilderness,  until  he  was  discharged,  except  two  days,  when  he 
was  sick.     At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  a  ball  passed  through  his  clothes,  in 
flicting  a  flesh  wound  in  the  hip.     At  the  battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  August 
eighteenth,  1864,  a  ball  passed  through  his  hat.     He  was  subsequently  commis 
sioned  Captain,  with  rank  from  April  thirtieth,  1864. 

Captain  Waterman  spent  about  two  years  in  California  in  1855-6,  having  per 
formed  the  journey  overland.  In  the  latter  year  he  returned,  but  in  1857  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  three  years.  From  1860  to  the  time  of  his 
enlistment,  he  was  engaged  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  A.  P.  Chamberlain,  at 
Westfield,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.  His  present  post-office  address  is  Decatur,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  EDWAKD  D.  YAN  SLYCK 

WAS  born  at  Exeter,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  August  eleventh,  1833.  His  father, 
Phillip  Van  Slyck,  was  a  descendant  of  the  Kinderhook  family  of  Van  Slycks,  and 
a  relative  of  Martin  Van  Buren.  His  mother,  Abi  Rider,  was  daughter  of  Stephen 
Rider,  a  Tolland,  Connecticut,  Yankee.  At  an  early  age  Lieutenant  Van  Slyck 
exhibited  a  love  of  letters,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  commenced  teaching  dis 
trict  school.  This  he  followed  winters  for  several  years,  filling  the  intervening 
spaces  with  labor  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  married  Kate 
Fisher,  sister  of  Lieutenant  John  Fisher.  She  accompanied  the  Lieutenant  to 
Washington,  and  many  of  the  men  will  acknowledge  her  kindness  in  camp,  and 


384  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


the  value  of  her  tuition  in  cooking. 
In  the  fall  of  1856,  Lieutenant  Van 
Slyck  commenced  reading  law  in  the 
office  of  K.  Holland  Duell,  in  Cort- 
land.  In  1858,  with  a  fellow  law  stu 
dent,  P.  H.  Bateson,  of  Ohio, 
Lieutenant  Van  Slyck  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  "REPUBLICAN 
BANNER,"  in  Cortland,  a  weekly 
sheet  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
freedom.  This  publication  was  con 
tinued  until  October  fourth,  1861, 
when  he  sold  out  to  enter  the  army. 
Not  being  able  to  dispose  of  his  paper 
in  season,  he  was  delayed  in  raising  his  company ;  but  finally,  on  the  twelfth  of 
November,  he  was  mustered  as  Captain  of  Company  K.  Not  filling  his  company 
previous  to  the  receipt  of  marching  orders,  the  company  was  broken  up  at  the 
consolidation  at  Albany,  and  distributed  among  the  other  companies.  Captain 
Van  Slyck,  with  a  few  men,  were  put  into  Company  D,  in  which  he  became  First 
Lieutenant.  He  consented  to  this  rather  than  be  rendered  supernumerary.  On 
the  resignation  of  Quartermaster  Smith,  in  May,  1862,  Lieutenant  Van  Slyck  was 
detailed  as  Regimental  Quartermaster.  He  was  ordered  the  next  day  to  prepare 
to  march.  The  labor,  and  a  drenching  rain  which  set  in  while  working  the  train 
from  Aquia  Creek  to  Fredericksburg,  induced  the  typhoid  fever,  from  which  he 
did  not  recover  until  the  following  August.  He  marched  with  the  Regiment  to 
Cedar  Mountain  in  August,  and  was  with  it  until  the  battle  of  Gainesville. 
Though  an  invalid,  he  entered  this  battle,  in  the  early  part  of  which  he  was 
wounded  by  a  fragment  of  shell  breaking  two  of  his  ribs.  He  rejoined  his  Regi 
ment  September  eighteenth,  and  remained  several  weeks  ;  but  another  relapse  of 
the  fever  occurring,  and  being  otherwise  physically  incapacitated,  he  tendered  his 
resignation,  which  was  accepted  by  General  McClellan,  October  eighth,  1862. 
Since  February,  1863,  Lieutenant  Van  Slyck  has  been  publishing  the  "DEMO 
CRATIC  REPUBLICAN,"  at  Hamilton,  Madison  county,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  H.  TAEBELL, 

SON  of  Samuel  and  Sally  Tarbell,  was  born  at  Freetown,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y., 
February  twenty-fourth,  1840.  He  received  an  academical  education  at  McGraw- 
ville,  N.  Y.  Enlisted  at  the  organization  of  the  Seventy-sixth,  as  private  in 
Company  D.  Was  promoted  to  Corporal  before  leaving  Cortland ;  to  Sergeant  in 
the  spring  of  1863 ;  then  to  Orderly  of  his  company,  and  finally  to  Second  Lieu- 


LIEUTENANT  Lucius  DAVIS. 


385 


;  expended  in  the  service." 


tenant,  with  rank  from  February 
twelfth,  1863.  He  was  sick  during 
the  battles  connected  with  Pope's  re 
treat,  but  joined  the  Regiment  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  and  remained  with  the 
Regiment,  taking  part  in  the  battles 
of  Fredericksburg,  (first  and  second), 
Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  He 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  hip  and 
thigh  in  the  latter  battle,  and  was,  in 
consequence,  discharged  September 
seventh,  1863.  No  officer  more  sin 
cerely  regretted  being  thus  early 
His  present  residence  is  McGrawville,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  LUCIUS  DAVIS 


WAS  born  at  McLean,  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.,  July  thirtieth,  1835. 
His  parents'  names  were  John  L.  and 
Mary  Boynton  Davis.  At  the  time  of 
his  enlistment  in  1861,  Lieutenant 
Davis  was  a  farmer.  He  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  C.  At  first  he 
was  thrown  out  as  physically  incapa 
ble  of  military  duty ;  but  with  that 
determination  which  afterwards  won 
so  many  laurels,  he  again  applied  and 
was  accepted.  He  felt  that  the  coun 
try  needed  his  services,  and  desired 
to  make  at  least  an  attempt  to  aid  it 
in  its  life-struggle.  The  result  justified  his  persistency.  He  was  in  every  battle 
from  the  time  he  enlisted  until  he  was  discharged.  At  the  battle  of  Gainesville, 
he  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  breast.  He  was,  in  November,  1862,  promoted  to 
Orderly  Sergeant  "for  bravery  and  strict  attention  to  business."  In  February, 
1863,  he  was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  "for  good  behavior  and  bravery," 
with  rank  from  November  eleventh,  1862.  In  May,  1863,  he  was  commissioned 
First  Lieutenant.  At  the  sanguinary  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Pa,,  July  first,  1863, 
Lieutenant  Davis  was  wounded  in  the  hand,  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  dis- 


386 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH   REGIMENT  N    Y.  Y. 


charged  November  ninth,  1863.  He  had  in  the  meantime  visited  home  and 
returned  to  the  hospital  at  Philadelphia,  with  the  intention  to  return  to  the  Regi 
ment  ;  but  the  surgeon  declared  him  unfit  for  duty,  and  refused  to  permit  him  to 
return.  Having  done  what  he  could  for  his  country,  he  returned  and  went  into 
business  at  Marathon,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  now  resides. 

The  following  extract,  from  the ,  published  while  he  was  in  the  service, 

shows  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  at  home : — 

HONOR  TO  THE  BRAVE. 

We  learn  that  Lucius  Davis,  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  has  been  commended  by  Briga 
dier-General  Doubleday,  for  conduct  in  battle,  which  is  highly  creditable  and  worthy  of  emula 
tion.  Mr.  Davis  enlisted  as  a  private,  and  has  been  a  true  soldier,  standing  by  the  Regiment  in 
all  its  difficult  marches,  and  distinguishing  himself  by  coolness  and  bravery  in  all  its  battles. 
At  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Doubleaay's  Brigade  being  in  the  extreme  front,  one  of  our 
batteries  opened  upon  them,  through  mistake,  a  terrific  fire  of  shot  and  shell,  doing  them  great 
injury.  General  Doubleday  himself  rode  forward  and  called  for  some  one  to  so  forward  and 
inform  them  of  their  fatal  error.  Although  it  seemed  like  walking  into  the  jaws  of  death  to 
approach  the  thundering  cannon,  Mr.  Davis  gallantly  offered  his  services.  He  delivered  his 
orders  and  returned  unharmed.  For  this  brave  act  he  was  forthwith  promoted  to  the  highest 
non-commissioned  office  in  his  company  ;  and  for  his  conduct  at  the  battles  of  Antietam  and 
Fredericksburg,  he  has  received  a  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant,  a  well-merited  reward  for 
truly  distinguished  services. 


LIEUTENANT  BAKNAKD  PIIENIS 


WAS  a  native  of  Cherry  Valley,  N. 
Y.  At  an  early  age  he  became  a 
printer,  which  trade  he  pursued  un 
til  his  enlistment,  in  1861,  at  which  x 
time  he  was  at  work  in  the  office  of 
the  CHERRY  VALLEY  GAZETTE.  He 
was  unmarried,  possessed  of  a  social 
nature,  and  was  always  the  champion 
of  any  one  who  received  ill-treat 
ment.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Union  Guards,  and  entered  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  Regiment  with  the  three 
Cherry  Valley  Companies,  as  Ser 
geant  of  Company  H.  For  many 
months  he  filled  the  office  of  Order 
ly  Sergeant  of  his  company,  and  was  subsequently  promoted  to  Lieutenant. 
When  off  duty,  he  was  one  of  the  "  boys ;"  when  on  duty,  he  was  strictly  officer- 
like.  This  gave  him  a  warm  place  in  the  affections  of  the  men,  and  commanded 
the  respect  of  his  superiors. 

At  the  battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  August  nineteenth,  1864,  Lieutenant 
Phenis  was  shot  through  the  body  and  killed,  (see  page  308),  as  he  was  jumping 
over  a  breastwork  to  secure  a  rebel  flag  left  by  the  enemy  just  driven  out  by  the 


LIEUTENANT  TIIERON  C.  GUERNSEY. 


387 


Seventy-sixth.  His  remains  were  buried  beneath  an  oak  near  where  he  fell — an 
oak  that,  like  many  others,  marks  the  last  resting-place  of  one  of  Freedom's  no 
blest  defenders. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  STRINGHAM 


WAS  born  in  Scott,  Cortland  county, 
N.  Y.,  March  twenty-sixth,  1841.  His 
father,  Jacob  D.  Stringham,  served 
in  the  war  of  1812.  His  grandfather 
was  a  Major  of  militia  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  his  great  grandfather  was  a 
Captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
was  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Montgom 
ery.  Jacob  D.  Stringham  and  Commo 
dore  Stringham  are  cousins.  Lieut. 
Stringham  was  enrolled  in  Company 
D,  September  fourteenth,  1861,  on  the 
muster  of  which  he  was  made  Fourth 
Sergeant.  When  enlisted  he  was  a 
farmer.  Lieutenant  Stringham  participated  in  the  following  battles  : — Rappahan- 
nock  Station,  Warrenton  Springs,  Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain, 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1864,  he  enlisted  as  a  veteran  volunteer.  March 
sixteenth,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant.  In  March  and  April, 
1864,  he  visited  home  on  a  thirty  day  furlough.  Returning  to  the  army,  he  went 
into  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  fifth,  1864,  and  was  killed.  His  body 
was  never  recovered,  and  he  lies  undistinguishable  in  the  great  niaSs  of  heroes 
who,  on  that  closely  contested  field,  offered  themselves  as  sacrifices  on  the  altar 
of  country. 


LIEUTENANT  THEEON  C.  GUERNSEY 

WAS  born  in  Groton,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  January  second,  1844.  His  parents 
were  Amasa  C.  and  Loretta  M.  Guernsey.  His  grandfather,  Joseph  Guernsey, 
was  in  the  war  of  1813.  Lieutenant  Guernsey  enlisted  as  Sixth  Corporal  in  Com 
pany  D,  at  its  organization,  and  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  with  rank 
from  August  twenty-first,  1864;  but  at  the  battle  of  Feeble' s  Farm,  October  first, 
1864,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  before  being  assigned  to  any  company  or  mustering 


388 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


on  his  commission.  He  was  in  the 
following  battles  :— First  and  Second 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness, 
Laurel  Hill,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Rail 
road  and  Hatcher's  Run.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  wrist  at  Laurel  Hill, 
Va.,  May  tenth,  1864.  After  being 
taken  prisoner,  he  was  confined  in 
rebel  prison  pens  at  Pemberton,  Rich 
mond  and  Salisbury,  and  was  paroled 
February  twenty-eighth,  1865.  At 
the  battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad, 
Lieutenant  Guernsey  (then  Sergeant) 
commanded  his  Co.,  (D)  the  Cap 
tain  and  Second  Lieutenant  haying  been  wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  and  the  First 
Lieutenant  having  been  killed.  On  returning  to  his  Regiment,  he  was  discharged 
as  a  supernumerary,  rendered  such  by  the  consolidation  with  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-seventh  Regiment.  His  present  post-office  address  is  Marathon,  N.  Y. 


CAPTAIN  NOKMAN  G.  BAKTHOLOMEW. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  imbibed  from  birth  the  true  spirit  of  the  age  in 
which  he  lived,  for,  though  youth  inspired  the  highest  enjoyment  of  legitimate 
pleasures,  manhood  brought  the  grave  responsibility  of  willingness  to  defend 
principle  and  good  order,  even  at  the  cost  of  life.  He  was  born  at  Auburn,  Cay- 
uga  county,  N.  Y.,  March  twentieth,  1836.  His  parents  were  Caleb  Bartholomew 
and  Loraine  Wheeler  Gaston,  both  of  whose  ancestors  were  of  English  extraction. 
His  paternal  grandsire,  Jesse  Bartholomew,  was  a  soldier  in  our  American  army, 
in  the  two  English  wars  of  1776  and  1812 ;  and  also  his  maternal  graudsire,  James 
Gaston,  in  the  latter  only.  The  early  life  of  this  lamented  officer,  though  attended 
with  few  incidents  of  marked  significance,  was  still  fraught  with  characteristics 
which,  developed,  constituted  him  a  devoted,  fearless  soldier,  a  strict  disciplina 
rian  as  an  officer,  aud  a  charitable  superior.  At  the  residence  of  his  father,  at 
Etna,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  he  enjoyed  a  liberal  English  education,  adopting 
the  occupation  of  a  moulder  and  machinist.  September  twenty-sixth,  1860,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  L.  Houtz,  of  the  above  place,  which  union  gave  him  no  chil 
dren.  Generous,  but  just,  in  the  scale  of  humanity,  the  impending  war  found 
him  with  no  tie  too  precious  to  be  laid  upon  the  altar  of  his  bleeding  country. 
Highly  energetic  and  intensely  muscular,  of  little  more  than  medium  height,  and 
excellent  proportions,  without  an  excess  of  flesh,  his  erect,  manly  form,  dark  eye, 
dark  brown  hair,  and  light  complexion,  with  an  easy  carriage  and  ever-buoyant 
air,  placed  him  early  among  the  most  active  and  gallant  officers  of  our  patriotic 


CAPTAIN  NOKMAN  Gr.  BARTHOLOMEW.  389 

army.  Enlisting  November  eighth, 
1861,  as  a  private  in  the  Seventy- 
sixth  Eegiment,  at  Cortland,  N.  Y., 
he  passed  speedily  through  every 
grade  of  promotion,  for  meritorious 
conduct,  to  the  nattering  position 
which  he  honored,  and  in  which  he 
fell.  He  fought,  unharmed,  the  sev 
eral  battles  at  Rappahannock  Station, 
Gainesville,  Second  Bull  Run,  Fred- 
ericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and 
Gettysburg  successively.  The  dis 
tinguishing  events  in  the  military 
life  of  Captain  B.  occurred  at  the 
battle  near  Gainesville,  at  Fredericksburg,  and  Gettysburg.  At  the  hard-fought, 
but  unsuccessful,  contest,  near  Gainesville,  in  August,  1862,  when  the  enemy 
massed  their  columns  upon  the  worn-out  Corps  of  McDowell,  Colonel  Wain- 
wright  bearing  the  colors  upon  his  own  horse,  as  a  means  of  keeping  his  Regiment 
together,  and  rallying  his  men,  observing  the  coolness,  but  determination,  with 
which  Captain  B.,  then  invested  with  a  slight  command,  but  acting  without  a 
commission,  executed  his  orders,  personally  commended  his  firmness,  warmly 
assuring  him,  that  his  example  should  not  pass  unrewarded.  In  accordance  there 
with,  a  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant  was  granted  him,  bearing  even  date 
with  that  eventful  day.  When,  in  December,  1862,  Burnside  precipitated  his 
powerful  army  upon  Fredericksburg,  Lieutenant  B.  was  detached  from  immediate 
field  duty,  and  placed  in  command  of  a  posse  of  convalescents  sent  forward  from 
the  different  camps  around  Washington,  who  arrived  too  late  to  be  armed  for  the 
conflict,  and  was  assigned  to  hospital  service  with  them.  In  supplying  the  vacan 
cies  occasioned  by  this  unfortunate  fight,  Colonel  W.,  impressed  with  the  activity 
and  efficiency  of  Lieutenant  B.  in  that  service,  deemed  it  unjust  not  to  promote 
him  equally  with  those  other  worthy  officers  and  privates  who  were  engaged  in 
duties  more  dangerous,  but  not  more  difficult  or  important.  He,  therefore, 
caused  his  rank  to  be  raised  to  that  of  First  Lieutenant  from  that  date. 

Again,  just  at  the  climax  of  the  war,  the  three  days'  fight  at  Gettysburg,  July, 
1863,  which  hurled  back  the  invading  rebel  army  and  saved  the  trembling  nation, 
Lieutenant  B.  won  those  laurels  which  secured  the  immediate  personal  commen 
dation  of  the  commanding  officer  of  his  Regiment,  and  purchased  for  him  a 
Captain's  commission.  In  a  moment  of  imminent  danger,  when  their  fearfully 
decimated  numbers  caused  them  to  waver  slightly  from  position,  Lieutenant  B., 
then  in  command  of  his  company,  seized  the  national  colors,  sprang  upon  the 
earthwork  defenses  and  rallied  his  hard-pressed  men.  His  commanding  officer 
forthwith  obtained  a  Captain's  commission  for  him,  as  a  reward  for  his  bravery 
and  success.  His  fatal  change  of  fortune,  however,  was  reserved  to  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  May  fifth,  1864,  when,  having  received  a  severe  shot  through  the 


390 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


right  arm  at  a  moment  of  so  serious  reverse  to  our  troops,  that  but  slight  atten 
tion  could  be  given  to  his  dangerous  condition,  he  died  from  excessive  loss  of 
blood ;  passing  from  the  carnage  of  war  to  an  immortal  rest,  "  with  armor  on," 
just  as  one  imbued  with  true  manliness  could  wish  to  die,  battling  for  the  triumph 
of  his  cause.  Brigade-Surgeon  G.  W.  Metcalfe,  after  giving  a  detailed  account  of 
his  death,  says  : — 

The  Captain  was  universally  beloved  and  respected  by  his  fellow  officers,  and  his  death  is 
painfully  felt  by  them  all.  No  truer  patriot  or  braver  man  ever  lived,  than  N.  G.  Bartholomew. 
He  was  particularly  distinguished  in  time  of  battle,  for  cool  judgment,  and,  at  the  proper  mo 
ment,  brilliant,  dashing  courage." 

Temporarily  buried  by  his  comrades  near  the  scene  of  his  death,  his  remains 
were  removed  in  the  autumn  of  1865,  to  the  place  of  their  final  interment,  Octo 
ber  twenty-second,  with  military  honors,  in  the  cemetery  of  his  native  place, 
overlooked  alike  by  the  home  of  his  youth,  and  that  of  his  well-beloved  wife. 


CAPTAIN  IRA  C.  POTTER. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
July  twenty-seventh,  1836,  at  Carl- 
ton,  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.  His 
parents  were  Vernon  and  Noa  Round 
Potter.  His  great  grandfather  on  his 
mother's  side,  Bartram  Round,  was 
an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
His  grandfather,  George  Round,  was 
in  the  war  of  1812.  His  great  uncle, 
Chester  Carver,  was  killed  in  the  war 
of  1812.  Cap  tain  Potter's  occupation 
when  he  enlisted,  was  that  of  a  car 
penter.  He  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
September  twenty-fifth,  1861,  and 
was  mustered  as  Second  Sergeant  Oc 
tober  fourth,  1861.  April  seventh,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  First  Sergeant 
by  Colonel  Wainwright.  July  first,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  Sergeant- 
Major,  by  Major  Cook,  then  commanding  the  Regiment.  July  thirty-first,  1863, 
he  was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  with  rank  from  February  twenty-second, 
1863.  February  seventeenth,  1864,  to  First  Lieutenant,  with  rank  from  Novem 
ber  ninth,  1863,  and  September  sixteenth,  1864,  to  Captain,  with  rank  from  May 
fifth,  1864,  the  date  of  Captain  Bartholomew's  death.  Captain  Potter  was  Acting 
Adjutant  of  the  Regiment  from  July  thirty-first  to  about  October  first,  1863.  He 
participated  in  the  following  battles : — Both  Fredericksburgs,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania,  Coal  Harbor, 
North  Anna,  Tolopotornoy,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Peeble's  Farm,  Hatch- 


LIEUTENANT  JOHN  H.  BALLARD.  391 

er's  Run.  Though  participating  in  so  many  battles,  and  manfully  doing  his  whole 
duty,  Captain  Potter  was  never  seriously  wounded.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
he  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  hip,  but  was  enabled  to  keep  with  the  Regiment, 
by  his  knapsack  being  carried  on  the  wagons.  At  Laurel  Hill  he  was  slightly 
wounded  by  a  ball  grazing  his  neck.  He  was  discharged  with  his  company  (E), 
November  eighteenth,  1864,  but  two  other  men  belonging  to  the  company  at  the 
time,  out  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  who  had  been  members  of  it.  At  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  Captain  Potter  gained  great  credit  by  the  bold  and  skillful 
manner  in  which  he  handled  our  skirmishers.  On  the  sixth  of  May,  his  Regiment 
was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Corps,  and  very  much  exposed.  General  Rice 
ordered  a  portion  to  be  thrown  out  as  skirmishers.  Captain  Byram  commanding 
the  Regiment,  directed  the  two  companies  on  the  right,  E  and  H,  of  about  twen 
ty  men  each,  to  deploy  as  skirmishers,  and  advance  some  fifty  or  sixty  rods  to  the 
crest  of  a  hill,  Captain  Potter  being  the  ranking  officer  in  the  two  companies,  as 
sumed  command.  The  country  was  densely  covered  with  low  pines  and 
occasional  openings.  After  advancing  a  short  distance,  heavy  firing  was  heard. 
Then,  through  an  opening,  the  contending  armies  became  visible  as  they  surged 
to  and  fro  in  the  contest.  Our  troops  were  evidently  being  driven  back,  and  were 
finally  routed.  Our  skirmishers  now  commenced  falling  back  toward  the  main 
line  ;  but  on  reaching  an  elevation,  discovered  that  the  enemy  in  the  distance,  had 
very  much  advanced  their  line,  and  were  endeavoring  to  unite  their  lines  in  rear 
of  the  skirmishers,  and  thus  capture  them.  The  position  was  a  perilous  one. 
The  horrors  of  Southern  prison  pens  stared  them  in  the  face.  At  this  juncture 
the  Captain  says  :— 

I  immediately  assembled  our  men  and  prepared  to  make  the  best  of  our  almost  helpless  situ 
ation,  As  we  faced  to  the  rear  we  could  see  the  enemy's  two  lines  of  battle  on  our  right  and 
left  rapidly  advancing,  now  almost  unopposed,  momentarily  nearing  each  other,  and  the  open 
space  through  which  we  must  escape,  or  not  at  all,  rapidly  closing  up.  We  had  about  concluded 
to  go  to  Richmond,  and  were  speculating  as  to  whether  Libby  or  Belle  Isle  would  be  our  stop 
ping  place  ;  but  concluded  to  see  neither  until  absolutely  obliged  to.  We  picked  up  fifteen  or 
twenty  men,  several  non-commissioned  officers,  one  lieutenant,  (rebels)  and  started  to  the  Fed 


eral  lines.  Our  prisoners  were  a  squad  in  charge  of  the  Lieutenant,  who  were  in  the  rear  pick 
ing  up  stragglers  from  their  lines.  One  was  a  Sergeant-Major  who  had  been  sent  by  the  General 
on  our  left  to  the  General  on  our  right,  directing  him  to  cover  the  open  space,  which  order  he 


had  delivered,  and  was  returning  to  his  command,  when  he  was  intercepted  by  us.  This  order 
was  being  carried  out  as  fast  as  possible,  when  we  discovered  our  perilous  situation.  The  Ser 
geant-Major  said  to  me  after  we  got  into  our  lines,  that  he  was  sure  we  were  in  a  trap,  as  he 
knew  the  contents  of  the  dispatch  he  had  delivered,  and  that  it  was  at  that  time  being  promptly 
obeyed.  Immediately  on  taking  the  prisoners,  we  compelled  them  to  break  their  guns  against 
the  trees,  thus  preventing  their  '  pitching  in'  to  us,  should  their  number  increase  too  much.  With 
our  prisoners,  and  a  few  Union  men  who  had  been  captured  and  sent  to  the  rear,  we  started 
with  the  determination  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  these  two  lines  of  battle  and  get  into  our  lines, 
as  soon  as  possible.  My  men  had  orders,  which  they  would  certainly  have  obeved,  to  shoot  the 
first  and  all  the  prisoners  who  should  show  any  sign  of  resistance  or  disobedience  to  orders. 
As  we  came  through  we  could  easily  have  thrown  a  stone  to  either  line  of  the  enemy,  but  the 
bushes  aided  us  in  our  escape. 

Such  cool  courage  and  strategical  ability  might  have  been  profitably  emulated 
farther  up  the  scale  of  promotion.  Captain  Potter's  present  address  is  Utica, 
New  York. 


LIEUTENANT  JOHN  H.  BALLAED, 

SON  of  Hon.  Horatio  Ballard,  was  born  in  Cortland,  N.  Y.      His  ancestors  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  Tioughnioga  Valley.    Lieutenant  Ballard  was  pos- 


392  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


sessed  of  fine  natural  abilities,  to 
which  had  been  added  the  polish  of 
a  liberal  education.  In  September, 
1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Com 
pany  E,  Seventy-sixth  Regiment.  In 
November  following  he  was  pro 
moted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and 
subsequently  to  First  Lieutenant. 
He  went  with  the  Regiment  as  far  as 
Fredericksburg,  Va.,  where,  in  Au 
gust,  1862,  in  consequence  of  a  severe 
indisposition,  he  was  forced  to  re 
sign.  In  October,  1862,  he  was  ap 
pointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  office  of 
the  Secretary  of  State,  which  position  he  held  until  June,  1863,  when  lie  again 
entered  the  army  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  B,  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-seventh  Regiment  N.  Y.  V.  He  was  at  Folly  Island  in  the  fall  and  winter 
of  1863-4.  On  the  twenty-second  of  February,  1864,  the  Regiment  was  ordered 
to  Florida.  Lieutenant  Ballard  served  with  the  Regiment  there  until  the  close  of 
June  following,  when  he  was  obliged  to  resign  in  consequence  of  continued  ill 
health.  He  reached  home  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1864,  with  the  fatal  disease  fas 
tened  upon  him,  and  lingered  until  the  twenty-third  of  November,  1864,  when  he 
died.  In  the  quiet  Rural  Cemetery,  which  overlooks  his  beautiful  native  village, 
he  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death.  His  friends  may  well  mourn  his  early  death ;  but 
let  them  be  assured  that  death  never  comes  too  soon,  if  it  finds  us  in  the  line  of 
duty,  and  that  life  is  not  given  in  vain  which  is  given  for  country. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  II.  BARNARD 

WAS  born  in  Lee,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.  His  parents  were  Joel  and  Sarah  Starr 
Barnard.  His  grandfather,  David  Starr,  was  a  Captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
The  Captain  received  an  academical  education  at  the  Cortland  Academy,  where 
he  was  an  earnest  student  three  years.  In  July,  1855,  he  joined  the  Oneida  Con 
ference,  and  entered  upon  the  sacred  duties  of  the  Christian  ministry,  in  which 
profession  he  was  engaged  when  he  joined  the  army.  He  recruited  Company  F, 
and  was  elected  its  Captain.  Shortly  after  leaving  Cortland,  he  was  called  back 
to  attend  his  beloved  wife  in  her  last  illness,  and  no  sooner  had  he  performed  the 
last  sad  duty  to  her,  than  he  found  his  way  to  his  company,  then  stationed  at  the 
forts  north  of  Washington.  He  remained  with  his  company,  participating  in  the 
battles  of  Rappahannock  Station,  Sulphur  Springs,  Gainesville  and  Bull  Run.  At 


CAPTAIN  JAMES  L.  GODDAKD. 


393 


the  latter  battle  he  was  conspicuous 
for  his  bravery.  Most  of  the  officers 
had  fallen.  The  troops  were  demor 
alized  by  the  retreat  of  the  forces  on 
the  left,  yet  Captains  Barnard  and 
Young,  by  their  personal  courage  and 
efforts,  did  much  to  preserve  the  line 
of  the  Seventy-sixth.  When  forced 
to  retreat,  the  Captain  was  so  ex 
hausted  as  to  be  unable  to  walk. 
Seeing  this,  Colonel  Wainwright, 
with  characteristic  kindness,  dis 
mounted  and  placed  the  Captain  on 
his  horse,  and  thus  alternately  riding 
and  walking,  they  reached  a  German 
battery  within  the  main  line,  where  they  slept  on  the  same  blanket  upon  the 
ground  the  remainder  of  the  night.  Colonel  Wainwright  spoke  in  high  terms  of 
the  conduct  of  Captain  Barnard  on  this  occasion.  He  continued  with  his  com 
pany  on  the  march  through  Washington,  D.  C.,  until  about  ten  miles  in  Maryland, 
when,  his  health  failing,  he  was  ordered  by  the  Colonel  to  return  to  Washington, 
where  he  resigned  on  account  of  physical  disability,  September  sixteenth,  1862, 
having  been  just  one  year  in  the  service.  Much  has  been  said  about  the  demoral 
izing  influence  of  the  army;  but  Captain  Barnard  was  one,  at  least,  who 
maintained  his  integrity  unsullied.  He  preaches  at  present,  at  Vernon,  N.  Y. 


CAPTAIN  JAMES  L.  GODDAKD 

WAS  born  in  Greenfield,  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  in  1832.  His  parents,  Levi  and 
Alice  Davis  Goddard,  removed  to  Truxton,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1842.  His 
father  died  two  years  after,  leaving  six  children  in  limited  circumstances.  They 
were  obliged  to  rely  upon  their  own  exertions  for  a  livelihood,  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  commenced  to  learn  the  wagon-maker's  trade. 
Possessing  a  roving  disposition,  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  resolved  on  a  sea  voyage, 
and  immediately  started  for  Boston,  where  he  shipped  upon  a  sperm  whaler  for 
two  years.  The  vessel  cruised  around  the  Bermudas  and  Western  Islands,  and 
meeting  with  no  success,  returned  to  Boston  in  eight  months.  Alter  a  voyage  to 
Liverpool,  and  working  at  his  trade  in  Dumfries,  Scotland,  about  two  months, 
Captain  Goddard  returned  to  Truxton,  where  he  remained  two  years.  This 
proved  too  quiet  for  him,  and  he  again  started  for  the  sea.  He  shipped  at  New 
Bedford,  for  three  years,  in  an  Arctic  Ocean  whaler.  Leaving  New  Bedford  in 
the  fall,  he  arrived  at  Honolulu  in  the  spring.  Proceeding  thence  to  the  Arctic 


394: 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  K.  Y.  Y. 


they  cruised  until  fall,  suffering  in 
describably,  and  obtaining  no  oil. 
They  then  returned  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  anchoring  in  the  harbor  of 
Helo.  He  here  left  the  ship  and  took 
another  that  was  to  cruise  on  the 
coast  of  Lower  California.  The 
Captain  threatening  one  day  to  re 
turn  Goddard  and  four  companions 
to  the  ship  they  had  left,  they  re 
solved  to  escape.  Locking  the  offi 
cers  in  the  cabin  one  night,  the  five, 
with  two  others,  started  in  an  open 
boat  for  the  shore,  twenty-five  miles 
distant.  They  forgot,  in  their  haste, 
to  take  water,  and  while  exploring  the  country  for  it,  the  others  were  captured, 
but  Goddard  escaped.  After  working  for  an  Englishman  about  two  months,  at 
Cape  St.  Lucas,  he  started  for  Mazetlan,  Mexico.  Here  he  was  pressed  aboard  a 
Mexican  man-of-war,  but  was  soon  after  discharged,  through  the  influence  of  the 
American  Consul.  From  there  he  went  to  Valparaiso,  South  America,  and  from 
thence  to  Conception,  where  he  resided  about  a  year.  While  here,  in  the  winter 
of  1861,  hearing  of  the  troubles  in  the  United  States,  he  started  for  home,  intend 
ing  to  ship  on  board  a  man-of-war  at  New  York.  Visiting  his  home  in  Truxton, 
he  learned  that  the  Seventy-sixth  was  being  organized  at  Cortland.  He  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Captain  Lansing's  company  (G),  but  on  the  election  of  officers  was 
made  Second  Lieutenant.  He  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  February  twen 
ty-second,  1862,  and  to  Captain,  and  assigned  to  Company  F,  July  eleventh,  1862. 
He  was  subsequently  brevetted  Major  by  Governor  Fenton.  He  was  in  all  the 
battles  with  the  Regiment,  except  the  Wilderness,  which  was  fought  while  he 
was  home  on  a  leave  of  absence.  Returning  on  the  twelfth  of  May,  he  assumed 
command  of  the  Regiment,  which  position  he  held  until  the  third  of  June,  1864, 
when  he  was  wounded  and  came  home.  He  was  honorably  discharged  August 
eighteenth,  1864,  on  account  of  his  wound.  During  his  service  he  was  several 
times  wounded,  the  last  time  by  a  piece  of  shell,  which  cut  his  face  open,  and 
came  very  near  proving  fatal.  Soon  after  his  discharge  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Fannie  Twentyman,  and  has  now  settled  down  to  a  farmer's  life  in  Truxton. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  WALLACE  GKEEN. 

THE  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  at  Mixville,  Allegany  county,  N.  Y.,  Au 
gust  fifteenth,  1843.  His  father,  Benjamin  T.  Green  was  brought  up  a  merchant, 
and  removed  to  Jersey  City  in  1856,  the  better  to  accommodate  himself  to  his 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  WALLACE  GEEEN. 


395 


business  in  New  York,  which  he 
wished  his  son  to  follow.  The  boy 
was  sent,  for  a  time,  to  the  Penning- 
ton  Seminary,  N.  J.,  and  when  the 
rebellion  burst  upon  the  astonished 
country,  his  father  had  but  just 
placed  him  to  business  in  New  York. 
But  from  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sum- 
ter,  dry  goods,  accounts  and  trade 
marks  had  no  further  attractions  for 
him.  Commerce  was  tame  when 
glory  was  to  be  won.  He  at  once 
embraced  every  opportunity  for  mil 
itary  drill,  which  he  seemed  to  mas 
ter  with  an  intuition  that  marked 
him  a  natural  soldier ;  and  when  the  crushing  news  of  the  Bull  Run  disaster  of 
1861  shook  the  public  heart,  young  Green  would  no  longer  delay.  He  was  of  rev 
olutionary  blood,  and  although  scarcely  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  comprehended 
the  greatness  of  the  cause  at  stake.  The  country  was  in  danger,  and  manhood 
and  muscle  were  wanted.  As  no  other  way  seemed  to  open,  he  was  about  to 
enlist  as  a  private  in  one  of  the  volunteer  organizations  of  Jersey  City,  when  he 
heard  the  welcome  call  of  his  uncle,  Colonel  Nelson  W.  Green,  for  volunteers,  at 
Cortland,  N.  Y.,  who  was  then  organizing  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment.  Among 
the  very  first  of  the  many  other  mere  boys  who  appeared  at  Camp  Campbell,  was 
the  youthful  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  kindliness,  and  the  compactness  of  his 
character,  and  his  peculiar  reticence,  at  once  gave  him  position  among  his  com 
rades.  He  took  the  drill  in  spirit  and  in  detail  as  if  by  instinct,  and  when  the 
permanent  organization  was  made,  he  was  elected,  without  opposition,  Second 
Lieutenant  of  Company  F,  upon  his  own  merits.  From  first  to  last,  the  drill  and 
discipline  of  Company  F  were  mainly  due  to  him ;  and  it  is  conceded  that  he 
opened  the  skirmish  drill  in  the  Regiment,  and  that  his  company  excelled  in  this 
important  branch  of  the  tactics.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  Lieutenant  Green  that  the 
noble  men  of  Company  F  were  attached  to  him  with  no  common  devotion.  The 
company  was  recruited  mostly  from  Dryden,  Tompkins  county.  They  were  from 
the  farms,  and  stores,  and  workshops — superior,  representative  men,  few  of  whom 
wanted  ability  to  command,  and  many  afterwards  won  commissions.  Such  were 
the  men  of  Company  F,  and  of  such  had  Lieutenant  Green  won  the  confidence 
and  command.  The  survivors  of  this  magnificent  Regiment  still  speak  of  Lieu 
tenant  Green  with  enthusiasm ;  but  his  young  frame,  unused  to  hardships,  was 
unequal  to  the  unusual  strain  and  exposure  of  a  military  campaign.  At  Cortland, 
at  Albany,  at  Riker's  Island,  at  Meridian  Hill,  he  had  never  been  excused  from 
duty,  and  he  was  never  absent.  But  at  Fort  Totten,  where  the  headquarters  of 
the  Regiment  was  located  in  the  spring  of  1862,  he  was  suddenly  stricken  down 
with  pneumonia,  a  fearful  disease,  then  prevalent  in  camp.  By  careful  manage- 


396 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 


ment,  his  father  was  able  to  get  him  home,  and  although  a  vigorous  constitution 
at  length  partially  prevailed  over  the  first  attack,  he  did  not  recover.  Once  after 
many  months,  his  enthusiasm  to  join  his  comrades  overruled  the  remonstrance  of 
his  physician  and  friends,  and  he  made  his  way  as  far  as  Washington,  to  rejoin  his 
company,  then  in  front  of  Fredericksburg.  But  he  was  speedily  sent  home  by 
the  surgeon,  with  the  crushing  assurance  that  he  was  permanently  disabled. 
Still  determined,  he  clung  to  the  forlorn  hope  of  restoration  in  time  to  go  to 
battle,  until  he  was  finally  admonished  by  the  increasing  weakness  and  final  fail 
ure  of  his  lungs,  that  he  must  surrender. 

After  eighteen  months'  service,  just  upon  the  threshold  of  a  cherished  career, 
when  ambition,  and  patriotism,  and  loyalty  alike  called  him  to  the  front,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  November  twenty-fifth,  1863,  with  a  broken  constitution 
and  dissatisfied  in  spirit ;  having  unwillingly  missed  that  opportunity  from  the 
perils  of  which  true  genius  and  patriotism  will  pray  his  country  may  be  spared  on 
her  account ;  but  which,  having  come,  he  will  on  his  own  account,  not  willingly 
let  pass  unimproved. 

Lieutenant  Green  has  not  fully  recovered  from  the  effects  of  this  unfortunate 
disability. 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  H.  MYEKS, 

SON  of  John  F.  and  Maria  Myers,  was 
born  at  Cortland,  Cortland  county, 
N.  Y.,  December  twenty-fifth,  1840. 
He  received  an  academical  education 
at  the  Cortlandville  academy,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  commenced  to 
learn  the  carpenter's  trade  of  his 
father.  The  firing  upon  Fort  Sum- 
ter,  and  the  assault  upon  the  Massa 
chusetts  men  in  Baltimore  aroused 
his  young  spirit,  and  he  determined 
to  enter  Company  H,  Twenty-third 
Regiment  New  York  volunteers, 
raised  in  Cortland  in  the  early  sum 
mer  of  1861 ;  but  from  this  he  was 
dissuaded  by  his  friends.  When  the  attempt  was  made  to  raise  the  Seventy-sixth 
he  immediately  joined  with  his  companions.  He  enlisted  as  private,  and  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  was  made  Corporal.  He  was  soon  after  promoted 
to  Sergeant,  and  filled  successively  the  different  non-commissioned  offices  of  his 
company,  and  Sergeant-Major  of  the  Regiment,  and  was  finally  commissioned  as 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  H.  MTEES.  397 

Lieutenant,  with  fair  prospects  of  promotion,  had  he  not  been  captured  and  de 
tained  from  duty  in  Southern  prisons.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Rappa- 
hannock  Station,  Warrenton  Springs,  Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain, 
Antietam,  First  and  Second  Frederisksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg  and  the 
Wilderness.  In  the  latter  battle,  May  fifth,  1864,  he  was  captured  in  the  skirmish 
line,  with  his  entire  company  (F)  and  two  other  companies  of  the  Seventy-sixth, 
(see  pages  284  to  289).  The  first  day  of  our  Lieutenant's  captivity  was  extremely 
sultry ;  but  he  was,  with  about  thirty  officers  and  seven  hundred  men,  marched 
twenty-five  miles,  suffering  severely  from  fatigue  and  heat.  At  two  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  seventh,  they  -were  huddled  into  box  cars,  and  started  for 
Gordonsville.  After  being  penned  in  a  filthy  wood  house  over  night  they  were 
started  for  Lynchburg.  Traveling  through  Charlottesville,  Lynchburg,  Colum 
bia,  &c.,  the  party  finally  arrived  at  Macon,  Ga.  Here  they  remained,  enduring 
all  that  humanity  is  capable  of,  until  July  thirtieth,  when  about  six  hundred,  in 
cluding  Lieutenant  Myers,  were  placed  in  box  cars  and  forwarded,  they  knew  not 
where,  but,  as  it  eventually  proved,  to  Savannah.  Here  they  were  placed  in  a 
high  brick  enclosure,  which  almost  entirely  shut  out  the  coveted  sea-breezes. 
Many  attempts  were  made  at  escape,  most  of  whieh  proved  unsuccessful.  At  one 
time,  the  ditch  was  completed,  except  opening  the  outer  end,  when,  unfortunate 
ly,  .a  cow  grazing  stepped  upon  the  grass  immediately  above  the  tunnel,  and  falling 
in,  revealed  the  plot.  They  remained  here  until  September  fifteenth,  when  they 
were  conveyed  in  cattle  cars  over  a  most  dangerous  road,  to  Charleston,  to  be 
placed  under  fire  of  our  guns,  then  bearing  upon  that  hot-bed  of  secession.  For 
two  weeks  the  loyal  shells  came  altogether  too  close  for  comfort,  but  they  were 
the  least  source  of  the  annoyances  of  this  prison  life.  The  grounds  were  filthy 
beyond  description — literally  covered  with  vermin  ;  the  rations  were  poor,  and, 
to  add  to  the  miseries  of  the  men,  the  yellow  fever  broke  out,  threatening  to 
sweep  away  the  entire  force  of  loyal  prisoners.  Lieutenant  Call,  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  Regiment,  was  severely  attacked  with  this  terrible  scourge,  and  for  one  day 
and  night  Lieutenant  Myers  watched  over  him  with  the  vigilance  and  anxiety  of 
a  brother.  Call  was  then  removed  to  the  hospital,  as  every  one  believed,  to  die, 
but,  fortunately,  to  survive — the  second  one  out  of  about  fifty  who  were  attacked. 
Starvation  now  stared  these  heroes  in  the  face.  The  rebels  finally  proposed  a 
means  of  escape  from  starvation,  which,  if  readily  accepted,  reflected  no  dishonor 
upon  the  imprisoned  and  famished  patriots.  It  was  proposed  to  give  five  hun 
dred  dollars  in  confederate  notes  for  every  order  drawn  by  a  prisoner  upon  a 
Northerner  for  one  hundred  dollars  in  gold.  No  wonder  that  each  prisoner 
readily  recalled  a  Northern  banker  who  held  his  gold !  Any  quantity  of  drafts 
were  given.  With  the  avails  they  bought  fresh  beef  at  four  dollars  and  a  half  per 
pound ;  pork,  eight  dollars  ;  butter,  fourteen  dollars  ;  beans,  a  dollar  and  a  half 
x>er  pint,  and  they  were  thus  kept  from  starvation.  None  of  these  drafts  were 
ever  known  to  be  paid. 

On  the  fifth  of  October,  the  prisoners  were  conveyed  to  Columbia,  S.  C.    Thus 
were  they  relieved  of  that  constant  fear  of  a  pestilence  second  to  none  in  fatality, 


398  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

which  had  surrounded  them  at  Charleston.  October  seventeenth  they  were 
marched  about  two  miles,  and  placed  in  a  stockade  in  an  open  field,  without  cov 
ering  of  any  kind  with  which  to  shelter  them  from  the  inclement  storms  of  the 
season.  The  wood  and  water  were  outside  the  stockade,  and  the  guard  were 
instructed  to  accompany  the  squads  of  prisoners,  as,  at  stated  times,  they  were 
permitted  to  bring  in  these  necessaries.  This  was  afterwards  changed,  and  a 
guard  placed  around  a  piece  of  woods  about  forty  rods  distant,  and  the  officers 
were  allowed  one  and  a  half  hours  each  day  in  which  to  procure  wood,  when  the 
guard  would  come  in,  driving  the  prisoners  before  them.  When  it  is  understood 
that  the  fifteen  hundred  prisoners  were  allowed  but  six  axes,  it  will  readily  be 
seen  that  their  supply  of  wood  was  very  scanty.  For  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  days,  no  meat  or  grease  of  any  kind  was  furnished  this  camp  !  One  day  a 
wild  two  year  old  hog  chanced  to  cross  the  line.  In  an  instant  the  whole  fifteen 
hundred  prisoners  were  after  him  with  clubs,  knives,  and  such  other  weapons  as 
they  possessed,  and  he  was  in  the  frying  pans  before  his  muscles  ceased  to  trem 
ble.  A  New  Hampshire  prisoner  thus  made  him  immortal : — 

The  black  hog  was  seen  when  running  through  camp  ; 
Each  man  forgetting  starvation  and  cramp. 
Grunts  of  the  uog  and  its  running  were  vain  ; 
Never  '11  he  be  on  that  camp  ground  again. 

Starvation  staring  the  prisoners  in  the  face,  they  resolved  upon  desperate  meas 
ures  to  effect  an  escape.  Lieutenant  Myers  several  times  made  the  attempt,  but 
failed.  Finally,  on  Christmas  afternoon,  with  Captain  B.  B.  Porter,  of  the  Tenth 
New  York  Cavalry,  he  approached  a  green  guard,  and  insisted  that  they  had 
orders  to  go  a  short  distance  beyond  the  guard  upon  some  pretext.  In  the  lan 
guage  of  the  Lieutenant: — "  In  short  we  lied  him  into  a  disobedience  of  orders, 
and,  strange  to  say,  gained  our  point."  They  had  with  them  two  sweet  potatoes, 
and  two  small  pieces  of  com  bread — about  enough  for  a  piece-meal  for  a  child. 
This  would  not  have  relieved  present  hunger,  but  they  kept  it  choicely  for  future 
use.  From  four  to  nine  P.  M.  they  lay  upon  the  cold  ground,  not  daring  to  stir 
lest  they  should  be  taken  back  to  camp.  From  nine  until  eleven  o'clock  they 
were  looking  for  the  road.  That  night  they  gained  ten  miles,  flanking  Lexington, 
though  traveling  more  than  twenty  miles  to  accomplish  it.  Before  daylight  they 
found  a  swamp  which  furnished  a  retreat  through  the  day.  Traveling  under  such 
circumstances,  through  an  enemy's  country,  where  every  point  was  new,  was  ex 
tremely  precarious.  The  second  night,  emboldened  by  hunger,  Captain  Porter 
resolved  to  visit  a  negro  cabin,  the  only  dwelling-places  of  loyalty  at  the  South. 
He  succeeded  in  reaching  the  cabin  without  detection,  but  as  he  was  turning  the 
corner  he  came  upon  a  huge  watch  dog,  which  came  at  him  with  great  ferocity. 
He  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  with  the  dog  in  uncomfortable  proximity  as  he  scaled 
fence  after  fence.  As  our  two  heroes  lay  trembling  in  the  corner  of  the  fence, 
they  learned  with  satisfaction,  that  the  white  inmates  of  the  "  big  house"  were 
charging  their  "colored  brethren  "  with  nightly  meetings  of  "niggers"  from  ad 
joining  plantations,  instead  of  escaped  Union  officers. 

Night  after  night  did  our  heroes  travel  the  strange  Southern  roads,  usually  in 
single  file,  from  five  to  ten  rods  apart,  one  reconnoitering  ahead,  and  the  other 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  H.  MYEES.  399 

watching  approaches  from  the  rear,  sleeping  during  the  day  as  well  as  they  could 
in  cold,  dismal  swamps,  one  keeping  watch  while  the  other  caught  snatches  of 
sleep,  without  blankets,  and  scantily  clothed,  with  only  remnants  of  shoes  upon 
their  feet.  Their  sufferings  were  intense.  General  Sherman  had  marched 
through  Augusta,  and  was  now  several  days  in  advance  of  our  fugitives,  and  on 
the  opposite  side  of  Jhe  river.  They,  therefore  turned  their  steps  in  the  direction 
of  the  Union  army.  Ignorant  of  the  country,  they  were  compelled  frequently  to 
apply  to  their  only  friends,  the  blacks,  who  never  refused  to  aid  them  with  gifts 
of  provisions,  and  valuable  information.  Night  after  night  did  they  apply  to  the 
humble  shanty  for  the  necessary  food  and  information,  and  never  did  they  apply 
in  vain.  History  will  ever  fall  short  of  doing  full  justice  to  one  element  of  our 
success — that  race  wrhich  continually,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  "confederacy," 
contributed  in  so  eminent  a  degree  to  the  success  of  our  arms. 

At  length,  after  perilous  night  marches,  encountering  hounds,  swimming  rivers, 
wading  swamps,  and  eluding  rebel  sentinels,  they  arrived  in  sight  of  Grahams- 
ville,  S.  C.,  which,  they  were  informed,  was  in  possession  of  our  forces.  The 
night  was  dark,  but  they  could  see  troops  about  their  fires,  cooking  their  evening 
meals,  though  they  could  not  tell  whether  Union  or  rebel.  They  at  length  re 
solved  to  ascertain  their  political  status,  but  too  late  found  they  were  rebels. 
Summoning  that  courage  only  given  by  despair,  they  marched  straight  through 
the  rebel  camp  in  safety !  One  rebel,  happening  to  jostle  Captain  Porter,  begged  his 
pardon,  which  was  readily  granted !  After  leaving  the  rebel  camp  they  proceeded 
to  a  negro  shanty,  where  they  were  well  fed,  when  the  negro  took  them  in  charge 
and  started  for  the  Union  lines,  but  ten  miles  distant.  After  proceeding  five 
miles,  the  negro,  giving  them  full  and  minute  directions,  left  them.  They  found 
every  point  as  he  had  described  it,  and  at  length  arrived  at  the  place  where  he 
said  the  Union  pickets  were,  but  found  the  post  deserted.  He  had  told  them  in 
case  they  did  not  find  them  here,  to  go  to  another  point  where  the  road  con 
verged,  and  here  they  would  surely  find  the  pickets.  Buoyed  with  hope,  Lieuten 
ant  Myers  having  but  a  portion  of  one  shoe  upon  his  foot,  they  hurried  forward 
to  the  point  where  the  friendly  pickets  were  to  be  found,  and  their  long  weary 
days  and  perilous  night  marches  were  to  end.  Seeing  two  horses  hitched  near  a 
fire,  around  which  stood  two  pickets  with  blankets  bearing  the  welcome  "U.  S." 
and  caps  of  loyal  fashion,  they  had  no  doubt  that  they  had  at  last  reached  the 
place  of  safety.  Marching  rapidly  up  to  the  pickets,  they  were  accosted : — 

' '  Halt !    Who  comes  there  ?' ' 

"Friends,  without  arms."  Thank  God,  we  are  safe!  thought  our  heroes,  as 
they  remarked : — 

"  You  are  Yankee  sentinels  ?" 

"  Not  by  a  d d  sight !"  was  the  unwelcome  rejoinder. 

The  story  was  a  short  one.  After  all  their  hair-breadth  escapes  and  endurances 
they  had  fallen  in  with  the  outer  rebel  picket,  and  were  again  prisoners.  No  pen 
can  describe  their  feelings  of  despair  at  that  moment.  Entreaty  and  expostula 
tion  were  alike  in  vain,  and  though  they  touched  the  sympathies,  they  could  not 


400 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


overcome  tlie  sense  of  duty  of  their  captors.  The  next  morning  they  were  sent 
to  headquarters,  and  were  soon  on  the  road  to  Charleston.  The  railroad  was 
rough  and  dangerous,  yet  on  flew  the  cars  at  a  fearful  rate.  As  they  came  in 
sight  of  Pocotaligo  Bridge,  the  hearts  of  the  patriots  were  cheered  at  the  sight  of 
our  camp  stretched  out  over  the  plain,  with  its  "  Flag  of  Our  Union"  flying  from 
numerous  headquarters ;  but  the  pleasing  sensation  was  sadly  changed  as  our 
forces  opened  their  batteries  upon  the  rebel  train,  and  the  shot  and  shell  came  in 
all  too  close  proximity  to  the  friends  for  whom  they  were  not  intended.  Arrived 
at  Charleston,  our  Lieutenant  was  soon  after  paroled,  and  the  war  closing  about 
that  time,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Cortland,  where  he  now  resides. 


LIEUTENANT  HENEY  CLIFF. 


THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  at  Gedney,  Lincoln  county, 
England,  December  fourth,  1827. 
He  enlisted  in  the  English  army 
February  fifteenth,  1846,  and  was 
discharged  June  eleventh,  1846.  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  his  discharge 
from  the  English  army : — 

56th  KEGIMENT  OF  FOOT. 
These  are  to  certify  that  2706  Henry  Cliff , 
private,  born  in  the  parish  of  Gedney,  in 
or  near  the  town  of  Long  Sutton,  in  the 
county  of  Lincoln,  was  enlisted  at  Bury 
for  the  aforesaid  Corps,  on  the  fifteenth  of 
February,  1846,  at  the  age  of  17  2-12  years. 
That  he  has  served  in  the  army  for  under 
age.  That  he  is  discharged  in  consequence 
of  paying  the  regulated  sum  of  twenty 
pounds. 
Dated  at  Bury,  Lancashire,  June  8. 1846. 

WM.  H.  EDEN.Lieut.-Col.,  Commanding  Officer  Horse  Guards, 

Discharge  of  2706  Private  Henry  Cliff  confirmed.  W.  COCHRA^A*'!^' 

CHARACTER,  GOOD. 

He  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  as  a  private,  September 
eighteenth,  1861,  at  Dry  den  N.  Y.,  but  was  promoted  to  Sergeant  at  the  organi 
zation  of  the  Regiment.  He  was  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  December  eighth, 
1862,  and  to  First  Lieutenant  July  third,  1863.  At  the  battle  of  Gainesville  he 
had  a  very  narrow  escape,  a  ball  passing  through  his  gun-stock,  coat  sleeve  and 
cap-box.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  first,  1863,  he  feU  in  the  hottest 
of  the  fight,  severely  wounded  in  the  left  leg.  (See  page  244).  He  lay  upon  the 
battle-field  unable  to  stir,  with  nothing  to  eat  or  drink,  for  fifty-two  hours,  until 
the  rebels  retreated,  when  he  was  removed  to  a  hospital  and  his  limb  amputated. 


CAPTAIN  A.  SAGEB. 


401 


He  was  in  the  following  battles : — Rappahannock  Station,  Warrenton  Sulphur 
Springs,  Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Chestnut  Hill 
Hospital,  Philadelphia,  November  twenty-fifth,  1863.  The  following  certificate 
shows  the  light  in  which  he  was  considered  by  the  officers  of  the  Regiment : — 

HEADQTJAKTEKS  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT,  N.  Y.  V.,  January  25, 1864. 
I  hereby  certify  that  Sergeant  Henry  Cliff,  late  of  Company  F,  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  N.  Y. 
Volunteers,  has  served  honestly  and  faithfully  in  said  Company  until  the  first  day  of  July,  1863, 
when  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  action  at  Gettysburg.  Pa.,  having  been  at  his  post  during 
every  march,  skirmish  or  battle  in  which  the  Regiment  has  been  engaged  up  to  the  first  of  July, 
above  mentioned,  excepting  a  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  August  thirtieth,  1862, 
when  he  was  sick.  He  was  recommended  to  the  rank  of  Second  Lieutenant  on  the  eighteenth 
of  January,  1863,  by  Colonel  William  P.  Wainwright,  then  in  command  of  the  Regiment,  and 
afterward  by  Major  John  E.  Cook,  about  the  first  of  October,  1863,  for  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
First  Lieutenant. 

JOHN  E.  COOK,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Commanding  Regiment. 

This  paper  was  presented  to  President  Lincoln,  who,  in  his  own  hand,  en 
dorsed  : — 

I  am  induced  to  believe  that  Sergeant  Cliff's  case  is  a  very  meritorious  one,  and  I  shall  be  glad 
if  such  place  as  he  seeks  in  the  Invalid  Corps  can  be  given  him.  A.  LINCOLN. 

April  25th,  1864. 

He  was  never  mustered  upon  his  commission,  having  been  discharged  before 
its  receipt.    He  now  resides  at  Dryden,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y. 


CAPTAIN  AAEON  SAGEE 


WAS  born  November  twenty- 
fifth,  1833,  in  Guilderland,  Al 
bany  county,  N.  Y.  His  ances 
tors  were  among  the  early  Dutch 
settlers  along  the  Hudson.  About 
1836  his  father,  Jacob  Sager, 
moved  with  his  family  to  the  city 
of  Albany,  where  the  Captain 
spent  his  boyhood.  His  educa 
tional  advantages  were  confined 
to  district  schools.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  he  entered  the  office 
of  the  Albany  SPECTATOR,  as  an 
apprentice,  but  failing  health 
soon  compelled  him  to  abandon 
this  occupation.  His  father, 
about  this  time,  moved  to  Syracuse.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  the  Captain  com 
menced  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Drs.  Hoyt  and  Mercer,  where  he 
pursued  his  studies  nearly  five  years.  He  then  changed  his  residence  to  Cortland 


402  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT  N.  Y.  V. 

village,  where,  after  a  short  engagement  as  salesman,  he,  with  a  limited  capital, 
opened  a  drug  store  of  his  own.  The  spirit  of  the  rebellion  about  this  time  de 
veloping  into  actual  war,  he  determined  to  abandon  the  pestle  and  mortar,  and 
take  up  the  sword  in  behalf  of  his  imperiled  country.  He  was  among  the  first  to 
aid  in  the  organization  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment.  He  was  mustered  in  as 
First  Lieutenant  of  Company  G,  September  sixteenth,  1861.  Upon  the  resigna 
tion  of  Captain  Lansing,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  the  fore  part  of  1862,  he  was 
promoted  to  Captain.  He  remained  in  command  of  his  company  while  at  Fred- 
ericksburg,  and  on  Pope's  retreat,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Rappahannock 
Station,  Warrenton  Sulphur  Springs  and  Gainesville.  In  the  latter  battle,  while 
cheering  his  men  forward  against  greatly  superior  numbers,  he  fell  wounded  in 
two  places.  One  ball  entered  near  the  ankle  joint,  where  it  still  remains.  The 
other  passed  entirely  through  his  body.  He  was  so  severely  wounded  that  word 
several  times  reached  his  anxious  friends  that  he  was  dead,  as,  through  long, 
weary  days,  he  lay  writhing  in  pain,  much  of  the  time  in  a  state  of  wild  delirium. 
He  finally  partially  recovered,  and  was,  in  1863,  discharged  on  surgeon's  certifi 
cate  of  disability.  As  a  soldier,  Captain  Sager  was  considered  a  "  duty  man." 
He  was  ever  cheerful — on  the  march  and  in  the  bivouac,  enlivening  and  cheering 
the  humblest  soldier  as  well  as  the  officer,  with  his  pleasing  stories  and  amusing 
jests.  While  sharing  even  the  last  hard  tack  with  the  humblest  private,  with  no 
appearance  of  authority,  he  was  ever  ready  to  enforce  discipline  did  the  occasion 
require  it,  fearlessly  and  impartially.  Had  he  not  been  thus  early  "  expended  in 
the  service,"  there  is  no  limit  to  the  position  he  might  have  reached  in  the  Regi 
ment.  He  deems,  however,  his  wounds,  and  the  blasting  of  his  ambition  at  the 
very  threshold  of  his  experience  as  a  warrior,  nothing  in  view  of  the  mighty  re 
sults  which  his  efforts  aided  to  accomplish. 
He  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a  drug  store  in  Cortland  village,  N.  Y. 


CAPTAIN  J.  CHUKCH  HATCH 

WAS  born  in  Groton,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  May  eleventh,  1834.  His  grand 
father  on  his  father's  side  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  three  of  his 
father's  brothers  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  only  brother  of  Captain  Hatch  enlisted 
in  the  Second  Illinois  Cavalry  in  1861,  was  captured  at  Fort  Donelson  in  the 
spring  of  1862,  and  died  of  starvation  and  rebel  cruelty,  at  Macon,  Georgia,  Sep 
tember  first,  1862.  The  Captain  was  married  in  1855,  to  Miss  Stilson,  of  Dryden. 
His  occupation,  previous  to  his  enlistment,  was  farming.  He  enlisted  as  a  pri 
vate  in  Company  C,  October  twelfth,  1861,  but  was  appointed  Sergeant  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  the  same  month,  and  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  October 
sixteenth,  1862,  and  to  First  Lieutenant  February  seventh,^1863.  He  was  in  com- 


LIEUTENANT  JOHN  FISHER. 


403 


mand  of  his  company  from  Novem 
ber  eleventh,  1863,  and  was  recom 
mended  for  promotion  to  a  Captaincy 
June  twenty-fifth,  1863,  by  Major  A. 
J.  Grover,  commanding  the  Regi 
ment,  and  repeatedly  during  the  fall 
and  winter  by  both  Major  Young 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cook,  but 
Captain  Hatch  is  a  true,  out-spoken 
patriot,  and  the  people  of  the  State 
of  New  York  in  the  dark  days  of 
1863,  placed  in  the  executive  chair 
that  bitter  partizan,  Horatio  Sey 
mour,  and  owing  to  a  letter  sent  by 
some  of  the  PRETENDED  democratic 
FRIENDS  of  the  Captain  to  "  Governor  SAYMOUR,"  signed  by  one  H.  M.  Ball,  of 
McLean,  he  was  induced  to  "  spare  the  feelings  of  the  great  democratic  party  of 
McLean,  and  withhold  his  commission."  Thus  to  please  this  noble  band  of 
"  PAT-RIOTS,"  the  commission  was  withheld  until  January  twenty-sixth,  1864,  the 
Lieutenant  manfully  doing  his  duty  at  the  front,  wondering  why  his  recommend 
ation  was  not  heeded,  and  all  unmindful  of  the  treachery  at  home,  which  thus 
insiduously  and  cowardly  deprived  him  of  his  deserved  promotion.  He  was  en 
gaged  in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  the  Regiment  participated  from 
the  fifth  of  September,  1863,  to  the  twentieth  of  October,- 1864,  except  Mine  Run. 
He  was  in  the  following  battles  and  skirmishes : — South  Mountain,  Antietam, 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsyl- 
vania,  North  Anna,  (or  Jericho  Ford),  Coal  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad, 
Poplar  Grove.  At  the  Weldon  Railroad  he  captured  the  battle-flag  of  the  Twenty- 
fifth  South  Carolina  Regiment,  nearly  losing  his  life.  The  flag  was  left  in  a 
cornfield  twenty  or  twenty-five  rods  in  front  of  the  breastworks.  He  was  bring 
ing  in  the  flag,  with  fifteen  or  twenty  rebels,  when  he  imprudently  raised  the 
color  and  was  mistaken  for  a  rebel.  The  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  on  the  right  of 
the  Seventy-sixth,  prepared  to  open  fire,  which  was  prevented  by  one  of  the  Sev 
enty-sixth  calling  out  that  it  was  Captain  Hatch  with  prisoners.  He  was,  for  this 
brave  act,  mentioned  in  the  report  of  the  Brigade  commander,  (see  page  309). 
He  was  discharged  by  reason  of  expiration  of  tune,  October  twentieth,  1864,  and 
returned  to  his  farm  in  McLean,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  JOHN  FISHER 


WAS  bora  at  Willett,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  March  third,  1833.     He  received  a 
common  school  education,  attending  for  a  time  the  Cortlandville  academy.  When 


404: 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


he  entered  the  service,  he  was  en 
gaged  in  farming.  With  his  broth 
er-in-law,  Lieutenant  Van  Slyck  he 
attempted  to  raise  a  company,  but 
the  unexpected  march  of  the  Regi 
ment  to  Albany,  disappointed  their 
hopes,  and  their  men  were  distribu 
ted  among  other  companies,  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  made  Ser- 
geant-Major  of  the  Regiment.  He 
was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
of  Company  I  January  seventeenth, 
1862,  and  to  First  Lieutenant  of 
Company  G,  in  July,  1862.  At  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  first,  1863, 
he  fell  severely  wounded,  the  ball  passing  through  his  arm  and  into  his  body,  from 
which  it  was  afterwards  extracted.  While  in  the  service  he  was  engaged,  with 
the  Regiment,  in  the  following  battles :— Rappahannock  Station,  Warrenton 
Springs,  Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg,  ChanceUorsville,  Gettysburg.  At 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  taken  prisoner,  paroled  and  sent  to  Annapolis,  and 
did  not  return  until  after  the  battle  of  Antietam.  He  resigned  October  twenty- 
ninth,  1863,  on  account  of  his  wound,  which  still  very  much  affects  his  strength 
and  ability  to  labor.  There  were  others  who  made  more  pretensions,  but  there 
were  few  truer  soldiers  than  Lieutenant  Fisher.  He  has  returned  to  his  occupa 
tion  of  farming,  at  Whitney's  Point,  Broome  county,  N.  Y. 


CAPTAIN  WARREN  EAKLE  EYANS, 

SON  of  Clinton  and  Mary  Duel  Evans,  was  born  in  Dryden,  Tompkins  county,  N. 
Y.,  April  thirtieth,  1843.  In  1844,  his  parents  moved  to  the  town  of  Bath,  Steu- 
ben  county,  N.  Y.,  where  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  until 
shortly  before  his  death,  in  1854.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  Captain 
Evans  was  attending  school  at  Savana,  Steuben  county.  He  resolved  to  enlist  in 
the  first  company  formed  in  his  town,  but  was  dissuaded  by  the  entreaties  of  his 
widowed  mother.  Another  company  was  soon  after  formed,  in  which  he  enlisted, 
but  it  never  went  to  war,  and  was  disbanded  for  want  of  the  requisite  number  of 
men.  Being  on  a  visit  to  his  friends  in  Dryden,  where  efforts  were  being  made  to 
recruit  for  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment,  he  enlisted  in  Captain  Barnard's  company 
(F).  When  the  Regiment  left  Albany,  he  was  left  in  the  hospital  sick  with 
typhoid  pneumonia,  but  rejoined  the  Regiment  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  about  a 


LIEUTENANT  EALPH  W.  CAKKIEB. 


405 


month  after.  When  the  Regiment 
left  Washington  for  Fredericksburg, 
he  was  deemed  unfit  for  duty  by  the 
surgeon,  and  was  left  to  assist  in 
caring  for  the  sick,  of  which  our 
Regiment  had  a  large  number.  When 
the  troops  advanced  on  Culpepper, 
in  August,  1862,  he  accompanied  the 
sick  to  the  hospital  at  Alexandria, 
and  then  took  the  cars  for  Culpep 
per.  Arriving  there  in  advance  of 
the  Regiment,  he  was  put  into  the 
hospital  to  care  for  the  wounded  of 
Cedar  Mountain.  He  was  kept  at 
this  employment  of  hospital  stew 
ard,  until  the  troops  arrived  at  Alexandria.  He  then  attempted  to  rejoin  his 
Regiment,  but  it  was  on  the  march  into  Maryland,  and  he  only  reached  it  in  time 
for  the  battle  of  South  Mountain.  Here  the  Color-Sergeant,  Charles  E.  Stamp, 
(see  page  153),  was  killed,  when  the  colors  were  taken  by  Evans  and  carried 
through  that  battle  and  the  succeeding  one  at  Antietam.  He  was  appointed 
Sergeant  November  twenty- eighth,  1862,  by  Colonel  Wainwright,  for  bravery  and 
meritorious  services  at  Antietam.  He  also  carried  the  colors  at  Fredericksburg, 
and  until  the  "  mud  march,"  when  he  was  relieved  and  returned  to  his  company. 
He  acted  as  First  Sergeant  of  his  company  from  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  until 
February,  1864,  when  he  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran.  He  received  a  commission  as 
Second  Lieutenant  in  March,  1864,  and  was  assigned  to  Company  H,  which  com 
pany  he  commanded  until  November,  1864,  when  he  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  Regiment,  which  position  he  filled  until  December  fifteenth,  1864.  He  was 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in  October,  1864.  He  was  in  all  the  battles 
from  September  fourteenth,  1862,  to  the  Hicksford  Raid  in  December,  1864.  On 
the  night  of  June  first,  1864,  while  lying  in  line  of  battle,  he  received  a  gunshot 
wound  in  the  head,  and  went  back  to  the  hospital,  but  returned  and  took  com 
mand  of  his  company,  June  fourth.  At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Va.,  May 
fifth,  1864,  Company  H  was  nearly  surrounded,  but  cut  its  way  through  the  line, 
capturing  a  rebel  lieutenant  and  six  men.  The  night  before  his  discharge,  he  re 
ceived  a  commission  as  Captain,  but  was  never  mustered  upon  it.  Since  his 
discharge  he  has  vindicated  that  other  "  Union,"  and  is  now  settled  at  Bath, 
Steuben  county,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  EALPH  W.  CAEEIEE, 

SON  of  Harley  and  Lavinia  S.  Carrier,  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Madison  county, 
N,  Y.,  in  1829.    He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  is  a  harness  maker, 


406 


THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


v 


He  enlisted  in  the  State  militia  in 
1847,  and  arose  to  the  position  of 
Major,  which  commission  he  re 
signed  in  1866.  In  the  summer  of 
1861,  Major- General  S.  S.  Burnside, 
commanding  a  Division  of  militia, 
tendered  his  Division  for  active  ser 
vice,  on  ten  days'  notice.  Colonel 
J.  B.  Wheeler,  commanding  the 
Forty-third  Regiment,  tendered  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  an  Adjutant's 
commission.  This  was  accepted. 
But  waiting  until  November  with  no 
prospect  of  the  Regiment  seeing 
active  service,  Lieutenant  Carrier, 
with  M.  B.  Cleaveland,  a  Methodist  minister,  attempted  to  raise  a  company  for 
the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment,  then  recruiting  in  Cherry  Valley.  They  had  enlisted 
but  about  thirty  men,  when  they  were  ordered  to  join  the  Regiment,  as  it  had 
been  ordered  to  Albany.  At  the  consolidation  at  Albany,  Carrier  was  made  First 
Sergeant  of  Company  H.  He  was  mustered  into  service  January  first,  1862.  He 
was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  in  his  company,  February  first,  1862.  He 
remained  with  his  company  through  all  its  experiences  from  Albany  to  Frede- 
ricksburg,  and  thence  to  Culpepper,  and  through  the  disheartening  disasters  of 
Pope's  retreat,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Rappahannock  Station,  Warrenton 
Springs,  Gainesville  and  Bull  Run.  In  the  latter  battle,  after  retreating  and  ad 
vancing  twice,  and  while  on  the  third  retreat,  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the 
left  hip,  from  which  the  ball  has  never  yet  been  extracted.  He  was  taken  to 
Washington  and  Baltimore,  where  he  was  examined  by  the  medical  board,  and 
discharged  January  thirtieth,  1864.  He  resides  at  Sherburne,  Chenango  county, 
New  York. 


LIEUTENANT  MAKTIN  EDGCOMB 

WAS  born  in  Groton,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1836.  His  grandsires  were 
both  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  When  the  war  broke  out,  Lieutenant  Edgcomb 
was  engaged  with  his  brother  Isaac  in  the  harness  business,  in  Cortland.  He, 
however,  left  his  business  and  enlisted  in  Company  A,  as  Sergeant,  under  his 
minister,  Captain  Grover.  He  was  promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  and  on  the  first 
of  December,  1864,  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  in  January,  1865,  to  First  Lieuten 
ant  and  assigned  to  Company  H,  which  company  he  commanded  about  five 
months.  He  was  with  his  Regiment  to  the  battle  of  Second  Bull  Run,  at  which 


LIEUTENANT  BICHABD  WILLIAMS. 


407 


he  was  taken  prisoner.  Paroled 
upon  the  field,  he  was  sent  with 
other  paroled  prisoners  to  Camp 
Chase,  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  did 
not  return  to  the  Regiment  until 
after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Soon 
after  the  battle  he  joined  his  Regi 
ment  and  remained  with  it  and  the 
different  Regiments  with  which  it 
was  consolidated,  until  the  close  of 
the  war  by  the  surrender  of  Lee  at 
Appomattox.  After  rejoining  his 
Regiment,  he  participated  in  every 
battle  in  which  his  Regiment  was 
engaged — a  long,  glorious  career.  In  January,  [1864,  he  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran, 
and  served  successively  in  the  Seventy-sixth,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh, 
and  was  transferred  to  the  Ninety-first  New  York  Volunteers,  but  there  being  no 
vacancy  of  his  grade,  he  was  mustered  out  as  supernumerary,  near  Washington, 
D.  C.,  on  the  return  of  the  homeward-bound  army,  July  second,  1865.  Lieuten 
ant  Edgcomb  was  engaged,  with  his  company,  in  the  following  battles  and  skir 
mishes  : — Rappahannock  Station,  Warrenton  Springs,  Gainesville,  Second  Bull 
Run,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Laurel  Hill,  North  Anna,  Coal  Har 
bor,  Tolopotomoy  Creek,  Bethesda  Church,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad, 
Peeble's  Farm,  First  and  Second  Hatcher's  Run,  Hicksford  Raid,  Five  Forks, 
Appomattox  Court  House.  He  went  into  the  war  from  principle,  and  though 
conspicuous  in  all  the  above  battles,  escaped  unharmed.  His  post-office  address 
is  Cortland  village,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y. 


LIEUTENANT  EICHAED  WILLIAMS 

JOINED  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  with  the  "Otsego  branch,"  and  in  the  con 
solidation  was  reduced  from  First  to  Second  Lieutenant  of  Captain  Cook's  com 
pany,  (I).  He  had  previously  served  in  the  Seventy-first  New  York,  and  was 
present  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  On  receiving  his  discharge,  he  came  to 
Otsego  and  commenced  recruiting  for  that  Regiment.  He  remained  with  his 
company,  faithfully  doing  his  duty,  until  the  second  Bull  Run  battle,  when  in  the 
midst  of  the  fight  he  was  shot  through  .the  body,  and  lay  all  night  in  the  lines  of 
the  enemy.  As  he  fell  he  begged  his  comrades  to  carry  him  off,  but  the  retreat 
was  so  precipitous  that  they  were  unable  to  do  so.  The  next  morning,  when 
found,  he  was  unconscious.  Poor  fellow !  He  could  not  return  the  friendly  and 


4:08  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N   Y.  V. 

sympathetic  grasp  of  his  companions,  as  they  leaned  over  his  fallen  body.  He 
died  the  next  day,  August  thirty-first,  1862,  and  was  buried  near  Centreville,  Va. 
(See  pages  134  and  135). 


CAPTAIN  EDWIN  J.  SWAN, 

SON  of  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel 
A.  L.  Swan,  was  born  at  Cherry  Val 
ley,  N.  T.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
"  Union  Guards,"  and  enlisted  into 
the  service  as  a  private  in  Company 
H,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  Being 
well  educated,  he  was  soon  sought 
out  and  made  clerk  at  headquarters, 
and  was  soon  after  appointed  mount 
ed  orderly.  He  was  appointed  Ser 
geant  of  his  company  about  the 
time  it  left  for  the  front.  He  was 
pronounced  unfit  for  service  when 
the  Eegiment  left  Fredericksburg 
for  Cedar  Mountain,  and  was  sent  to 
the  hospital  at  Alexandria.  When  he  heard  the  guns  at  Second  Bull  Run,  he  at 
tempted  to  procure  leave  of  the  surgeon  to  join  his  Regiment.  Failing  in  this, 
he  left  the  hospital  and  marched  in  search  of  his  Regiment,  some  ten  or  fifteen 
miles  distant.  On  arriving  at  the  army,  he  learned  that  the  Regiment  had  gone 
on  towards  Washington.  Turning  his  weary  steps  toward  Washington,  on  the 
third  day  he  reached  the  Seventy-sixth,  to  find  half  his  comrades  killed  or 
wounded,  and  among  the  latter  his  father.  He  remained  with  his  company, 
which  he  commanded  at  South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  These  battles  so  wore 
upon  him  that  he  was  forced  to  again  enter  the  hospital,  where  for  weeks  his  re 
covery  was  considered  doubtful.  His  youth  and  good  constitution,  however, 
prevailed,  and  he  again  joined  the  Regiment.  In  the  winter  of  1862-3  he  was  pro 
moted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  in  September,  1863,  to  Captain  and  was  assigned 
to  Company  K.  He  commanded  this  company  until  the  battle  of  the  Wilder 
ness,  May  fifth,  1864,  when  the  whole  company,  with  two  others,  was  captured 
by  the  rebels  on  the  skirmish  line,  (see  pages  284  to  289).  Captain  Swan  was  sent 
to  Macon,  Ga.  After  several  months  in  that  prison  pen,  he  was  sent  to  Savannah 
and  thence  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  placed  under  the  fire  of  the  Union  batteries. 
Here  he  was  kept  until  the  fall  of  Charleston  became  a  fixed  fact,  when  he  was 
sent  to  Columbia.  The  approach  of  Sherman's  army,  making  this  place  insecure, 
the  prisoners  were  loaded  into  freight  and  cattle  cars,  and  hurried  off  toward 


LIEUTENANT  JOB  NORWOOD.  409 

Charlottesville,  N.  C.  "When  about  seventy  miles  on  their  journey,  Captain  Swan, 
with  two  others,  managed  to  cut  a  hole  through  the  bottom  of  the  car,  and  drop 
through  to  the  ground,  where,  in  breathless  suspense,  they  lay  for  half  an  hour, 
until  the  train  started  on.  The  night  was  dark  and  so  intensely  cold  that  the 
drizzling  rain  froze  upon  them  as  it  fell.  Clothed  in  the  remnants  of  the  uni 
forms  they  wore  nine  months  before,  when  captured,  the  refugees  suffered  beyond 
description.  They  had  heard  that  Sherman  was  approaching,  and  supposed  that 
if  they  could  hold  out  a  few  days  longer,  he  would  arrive  with  his  army ;  but  at 
the  end  of  five  days  of  fasting  and  freezing,  they  learned  to  their  utter  dismay, 
that  Sherman  had  taken  another  route,  and  was  receding  instead  of  approaching. 
Nothing  could  now  be  done,  but  to  attempt  a  march  to  the  Union  lines.  They 
therefore,  started  for  Tennessee.  After  two  months  of  intense  suffering,  they 
succeeded  in  crossing  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  reached  Nashville,  Tennessee,  after  a 
journey  of  nearly  five  hundred  miles.  Weak,  footsore  and  weary,  these  three  had 
traveled  this  whole  distance  through  a  strange  country,  traveling  nights,  resting 
days,  frequently  one  of  the  company  unable  to  walk,  except  by  the  aid  of  the 
others ;  one  night  advancing ;  the  next  day  learning  they  had  advanced  in  the 
wrong  direction,  and  the  next  night  retracing  their  steps ;  subsisting  upon  raw 
corn,  and  such  other  provisions  as  they  could  obtain ;  fed  all  along  their  journey 
by  the  blacks,  the  only  class  loyal  to  "  Massa  Lincum's  Gov'ment ;"  continually 
in  suspense  and  dread  of  recapture,  their  condition  was  indeed  pitiable.  The 
Captain  has  never  yet  recovered  from  the  sufferings  and  privations  of  that  year  of 
imprisonment  and  escape.  It  was  a  rare  occurrence  for  so  young  a  private  to 
arise  to  the  rank  of  Captain  in  so  brief  a  time. 


LIEUTENANT  JOB  NORWOOD 

JOINED  Company  E  at  its  organization,  at  Cortland,  and  was  made  Seventh  Cor- 
peral.  He  remained  with  his  company,  and  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1863, 
was  promoted  to  Orderly  Sergeant.  He  re-enlisted  on  the  first  of  January,  1864, 
and  March  sixteenth,  1864,  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  and  transferred 
to  Company  K.  At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  fifth,  1864,  he  was  taken 
prisoner  with  his  company,  on  the  skirmish  line,  (see  pages  284  to  289).  He  re 
mained  a  prisoner  until  March  first,  1865,  when  he  was  exchanged,  and  was 
discharged  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  March,  1865.  He  was  in  all  the  principal 
battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  the  Regiment  participated,  and  was  ever  ready  to 
do  his  duty.  His  present  residence  is  Slaterville,  Tompkins  county,  N,  Y. 


EOLLS  OF  FIELD,  STAFF  &  COMPANIES. 


OKIGINAL  FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Colonel  NELSON  W.  GREEN,  -  -        See  page  345 

Lieutenant-Colonel  JOHN  D.  SHAUL,        -  "       350 

Major  CHARLES  E.  LIVINGSTON,        -  "       132-3 

Surgeon  JUDSON  C.  NELSON,  -  "       360 

Assistant-Surgeon  GEORGE  W.  METCALFE,  -  -  "362 

Chaplain  H.  S.  RICHARDSON,  -  "       363 

Adjutant  H.  F.  ROBINSON,  •  •  "363 

Quartermaster  A.  P.  SMITH,  Resigned  May  12th,  1862. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant  A.  J.  JARVIS,  Promoted  to  Captain  and  honorably  dis 
charged  in  1865.    A  faithful  officer. 
Commissary-Sergeant  WILLIAM  STORRS,  Discharged  in  spring  of  1862. 


COMPANY  A. 

ANDREW  J.  GROVEB,  Captain.   See  page  351. 

CHARLES  H.  GEORGE,  First  Lieutenant.    Resigned  in  1862. 

HERSCHEL  W.  PIERCE,  Second  Lieutenant.    See  page  369. 

SAMUEL  M.  BYRAM,  First  Sergeant.    See  page  382. 

IRA  C.  POTTER,  Second  Sergeant.    See  page  390. 

MAKTIN  EDGCOMB,  Third  Sergeant.    See  page  406. 

THOMAS  H.  MCCLENTHEN,  Fourth  Sergeant.  Wounded  in  thigh  at  Gainesville  August  28th< 
1862  ;  promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant  May,  1863,  and  to  Sergeant-Major  April,  1864,  and  dis 
charged  on  expiration  of  time. 

NORMAN  G.  HARMON,  Fifth  Sergeant.  Promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  May  1862 ;  to  Lieutenant 
December  25th,  1862;  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st, 1863;  commissioned 
as  Captain  August  6th,  1863.  Resigned. 

MABVIN  M.  MYNARD.  First  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862;  discharged 
for  disability  June  4th,  1863,  and  died  at  home  in  1863. 

T.  WILLIAMS,  Second  Corporal.  Detached  and  served  in  an 
r,  aud  as  wagon  master  in  artillery  brigade  of  Fifth  Corps. 
LEANDER  C.  DURKEE,  Third  Corporal.  Discharged  for  disability. 
WILLIAM  H.  MYERS,  Fourth  Corporal.  See  page  396. 

POLEMIC  W.  CIIAFEY,  Fifth  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  September  29th,  1862. 
JACOB  S.  KNAPP,  Sixth  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  February  6th,  1864. 
MOSES  M.  WHITNEY,  Seventh  Corporal.    See  page  378. 

OLIVER  H.  TOPPING,  Eighth  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability,  September  1st,  1862. 
ROBERT  SOUTHWOBIH,  Musician.    Discharged  lor  disability,  July  14th,  1862. 


DAVID  T.  WILLIAMS,  Second  Corporal.    Detached  and  served  in  ambulance  corps  and  as  forage 


412  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N".  Y.  V. 

CHARLES  O.  WOOD,  Musician.   Promoted  to  Drum-Major  June  23d,  1863 ;  transferred  to  Invalid 

Corps,  discharged  for  disability  and  died. 
GEORGE  Z.  PULLING,  Wagoner.   Discharged  for  disability  January  29th,  1863. 

PRIVATES. 

ALEXANDER,  IRVING  M.    Discharged  for  disability  January  21st,  1863. 

ARNOLD,  FRANK  E.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term  in  1864. 

ARNOLD,  DAVID  W.    Discharged  for  disability  October  3d,  1863. 

AUSTIN,  CALEB  R.    Discharged  for  disability  January  15th,  1862. 

ALEXANDER,  LA  GRANGE.    Discharged  for  disability  January  13th,  1863. 

ABBEY,  THOMAS  J.    Wounded  at  Gainesville.    Discharged  for  disability. 

ALLEN,  GEORGE  A.    Discharged  April  7th,  1863. 

BISHOP,  WATTS  L.    Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;  discharged  for  disability. 

BEERS,  DAVID  C.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

Transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  November  15th,  1863. 
BURNHAM,  EUGENE  A.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  July  1st,  1863. 
BEACH,  HECTOR  S.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  ;  discharged  for  disability  January  9th,  1863. 
BENNETT,  ISAAC  J.    Discharged  May  20th,  1862. 

BROWN,  ALONZO  D.    Severely  wounded  at  Gainesville,  and  discharged. 
BLOOMER,  WILLIAM  H.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th, 

1864;  discharged  with  regiment  at  expiration  of  term  ;  (since  died). 
BEACH,  THEODORE.    Discharged  July  6th,  1862. 
BYINGTON,  MARVIN.    Taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

COLE,  DELOS.    Discharged  for  disability  September  26th.  1862. 

CROSS,  WILLIAM  E.    Wounded  at  Warrenton  Springs  ;  died  in  hospital. 

CARPENTER,  DANIEL  W.  Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  30th,  1862  ;  re-enlisted  February  28th, 
1864 ;  transferred  to  Marine  Corps,  August  5th,  1864. 

CHURCH,  NATHAN  H. 

CHURCH,  ALVA  B. 

COWLIN,  MATTHEW.    Wounded  at  Gainesville ;  discharged  on  expiration  of  term. 

COOK,  CLARK.  Wounded  at  Warrenton  Springs ;  discharged  March  21st,  1863,  and  died  at  Wash 
ington,  D.  C. 

CONDON,  WILLIAM. 

CULVER,  LYMAN.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  February  15th,  1864,  and  discharged 
at  expiration  of  term. 

CARPENTER,  BENJAMIN  F.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

CAMPBELL,  MARTIN  P. 

DECKER,  WALTER  D.    Discharged  for  disability  November  25th,  1862,  and  died  soon  after. 

EARLE,  WILLIE  L.    Transferred  to  14th  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  July  1st,  1863,  and  discharged. 
ELWOOD,  WILSON  M.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
EDWARDS,  JAMES.    Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863. 

FOSTER,  MILES  R.    Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;  discharged. 
Fox,  WILLIAM  C.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

GILLETT,  FRANK  H.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

HAIGHT,  LEANDER  A.    Discharged  for  disability  May  20th,  1862.  . 

HUTCHINGS,  CHARLES  W.    Wounded  before  Petersburg,  June  22d,  1864  ;  discharged. 

WATT.     V.     C&r.mia-ir.       T>isr»har<rpri  Mav  9M    1«f»  6 


HALL,  E.  GEORGE.    Discharged  May  22d,  1862. 
HENRY,  JOHN  B.    Discharged  for  disi 


Discharged  for  disability  September  16th,  1862. 

HUTCHINGS,  OSCAR.  Wounded  at  Bull  Run ;  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and 
died  in  Libby  Prison  November  19th,  1863. 

HUTCHINGS,  URIAH.    Discharged  October  22d,  1862. 

HOYER,  ARTHUR.    Discharged  for  disability  September  29th,  1862. 

HILL,  GEORGE  B.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 :  pro 
moted  to  Lieutenant  December,  1864  ;  remained  to  end  of  war.  See  page  329. 

HUTCHINGS,  RUFUS  E.  Wounded  May  1st,  1863  ;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  November,  1863  ; 
discharged  on  expiration  of  term,  November  14th,  1864. 

HALBEKT,  LEE.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

HIGGINS,  SAMUEL.    Discharged  for  disability  March  12th,  1863. 

HARRIS,  ALONZO.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  discharged  October  22d,  1862. 

HILTON,  ALBERT  L.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863  ;  killed  at  the  Wilderness,  May  5th, 

HOUGHTALING,  JESSE.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  discharged  for  wound 
December  llth,  1862. 

JOHNSON,  EUGENE  E.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  transferred  to  Veteran  Re 
serve  Corps  January  13th,  1864. 

KEACH,  GEORGE  G.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October  llth,  1864. 
LOOMIS,  ALEXANDER. 

MAYCUMBER,  CHARLES  M.     Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862;   discharged  October 

8th, 1862. 

MYNARD,  NORMAN.    Died  at  Fort  Schuyler  Hospital,  N.  Y.,  December  29th,  1862 
MARSH,  RUTGAR  B.     Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864  ;   wounded  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864  ; 

discharged  for  disability. 
MOORE,  GEORGE,  JR.   Promoted  toRtergeant  April  12th,  1864 ;  discharged  on  expiration  of  term 

October  llth,  1864. 
MARSH,  SEYMOUR. 

MOTT,  DANIEL.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 
MARIKLE,  FRANCIS. 

OLIVER,  OBLAOTO.  Discharged  for  disability  February  14th,  1862, 


COMPANY  B.  413 


OWEN,  HARBISON  W.   Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

POTTER,  WILLIAM  B.    Died  at  Meridian  Hill,  D.  C.,  February  19th.  1862.    See  page  44. 
PRATT,  FRANKLIN  F.    Promoted  to  Coporal  December  llth,  1863  ;  transferred  to  Marine  Corps. 
POTTER,  CHAUNCEY  D.    Discharged  for  disability  September  22d,  1862. 

POTTER,  WALDO.     Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  30th,  1802,  and  discharged  December  3d,  1862. 
Re-enlisted  in  2d  Heavy  Artillery ;  wounded  April  8th,  1865,  and  died  same  day  near  Richmond. 
POTTER,  JOHN  F.    Discharged  for  disability  February  7th,  1863. 
PRATT,  CHARLES  F.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
PEASE,  JOSEPH  N.    Discharged  July  7th,  1862. 
PINDAR,  JAMES  L. 

PALMER,  LEITKTUS.    Discharged  November  8th,  1862. 
PINDAR,  TRUMAN.    Wounded  August  19th,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad. 

RIPLEY,  HEMAN.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  February  15th,  1864. 
ROUNSVELL,  LORIN  S.    Taken  prisoner  at  Antietam  and  did  not  return. 

SMITH,  HERMAN  D.    Promoted  to  Corporal  February  1, 1863  ;  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
SMITH,  MELVIN  O.     Wounded  at  Warrenton  Springs  August  26th,  1862,  and  at  Gettysburg  July 

1st,  1863 ;  discharged. 

STONE,  STEPHEN  N.    Discharged  at  Albany  February  2d,  1862. 

SEEBER,  JOHN  W.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  died  of  wounds  August  30th,  1863. 
SMITH,  SELAH.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
STAMP,  CHARLES  E.    Promoted  to  color-bearer  September,  1862 ;  killed  at  South  Mountain 

September  14th,  1862.    See  page  153. 

TAYLOR,  JAMES  C. 
TOPPING,  MILES. 

WILLIAMS,  WILLIAM  H.    Discharged  for  disability  February  22d,  1863. 
WATJROUS,  MORRIS  E.    Discharged  February  llth,  1863. 


COMPANY  B. 

OSCAR  C.  Fox,  Captain.    See  page  370. 

CHAUNCEY  D.  CRANDALL,  First  Lieutenant.    See  page  373. 

W.  STUART  WALCOTT,  Second  Lieutenant.    See  page  374. 

BURLINGTON  BUTTON,  First  Sergeant.    Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  December  13th,  1862  • 

wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  discharged. 
A.  LYMAN  CARTER,  Second  Sergeant.    See  page  376. 
SAMUEL  L.  BLACKMAN.  Third  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  1863. 
RALPH  C.  SWAN,  Fourth  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  1862. 
HENRY  L.  TAYLOR,  Fifth  Sergeant.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

CHARLES  V.  FULLER,  First  Corporal.    Promoted  to  Sergeant ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st, 

1863,  and  discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  1864. 

HENRY  H.  TURNER,  Second  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  and  died  soon  after. 
AMOS  B.  MINER,  Third  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability ;  drafted  into  same  company  •  taken 

prisoner  and  died  in  Florence,  S.  C.,  October,  1864. 
GEORGE  H.  WEEKS,  Fourth  Corporal.    Died  in  the  summer  of  1862. 
JOSEPH  MCLEAN,  Fifth  Corporal.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  transferred  to 

Invalid  Corps. 

JOSEPH  L.  COTTON, Sixth  Corporal.     Promoted  to  First  Sergeant;   wounded  at  Bull  Run  Au 
gust  30th.  1862 ;  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  Hatcher's  Run  February  6th,  1865 ;  discharged 

at  close  of  the  war,  June  20th,  1865,  having  re-enlisted. 
HIRAM  G.  WARNER,  Seventh  Corporal.    Promoted  to  First  Sergeant ;  wounded  and  taken 

prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864 ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
ALBERT  J.  WILDMAN,  Eighth  Corporal.    Wounded  at  Gainesville,  Gettysburg,  Petersburg  and 

Hatcher's  Run ;  re-enlisted  February  28th,  1864,  and  discharged  at  the  close  of  war,  July 

17th,  1865. 

STEPHEN  BENNETT,  JR.,  Musician. 

GEORGE  W.  CROSS.  Musician.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
HAKVEY  YATES,  Wagoner.    Died  in  service  in  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

ALLEN',  CHESTER  H.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

ARNOLD,  ALLEN.   Detailed  in  February,  1862,  to  gunboat,  and  killed  at  explosion  of  the  "Mound 
City." 

BURNHAM,  ELBRIDGE  R.    Died  of  typhoid  pneumonia  in  sping  of  1862. 

BLACKMAN,  THERON.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

BIRDLEBOUGH,  THEODORE.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

BUSH,  CHARLES.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863;  taken  prisoner  and  died  at  Anderson- 

ville  September,  1864. 

BIRDLEBOUGH,  JOSEPH  R.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 
BURTCH,  JAMES  W.   Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

COON  EZRA. 

CROZIER,  WILLIAM  J.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  and  the  Wilderness,  and  taken  prisoner :  dis 
charged  February,  1865. 


414:  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

CHANDLER,  LUCIEN.     Died  at  Camp  Doubleday,  D.  C.,  of  typhoid  pneumonia,  in  spring  of  1862. 

CKOZIER,  JOHN.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  discharged  for  wound. 

CRUMB,  REUBEN.    Discharged  for  disability  in  spring  of  1862. 

COTTON  JAMES  L.    Killed  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  1862. 

COTTON,  HORACE.    Wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864 ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

CAHILL,  WILLIAM.    See  page  374. 

DEBAK,  THEODORE.    Wounded  near  Petersburg  June  18th,  1864 ;  discharged  at  expiration  ol 
term. 

ELLSWORTH,  DAVID  J.    Discharged  for  disability  April  12th,  1862,  and  died  of  such  disability. 
EATON,  BENJAMIN  F.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  and  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

Fox,  DANIEL.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863 ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May 

FINCH,  HENRY.    Died  at  Fredericksburg  July,  1862. 

FOLLETT,  WARREN  H.    Died  at  Fairfax,  Va.,  1862. 

Fox,  LEWIS  H.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg ;    taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness ;    discharged 

FULLER,'  WILLIAM  K.    Wounded  at  South  Mountain ;  promoted  to  Sergeant  January  14th, 

1863;  re-enlisted,  came  home  on  furlough,  and  died  January  4th,  1865. 
FULLER,  EVERETT.    Wounded  at  Bull  Eun and  Gettysburg ;  taken  prisoner,  and  died  at  Ander- 

sonville  November  1864. 

FULLER,  BURDETT.    Discharged  for  disability  April  20th,  1864. 
FULLER,  EUGENE  E.    Discharged  for  disability  1862. 
FULLER,  MORELL.  Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
FRINK,  JEROME.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness,  and  died  in  prison 

at  Florence. 

HYDE,  CHARLES  A.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1, 1863. 
HARVEY,  ALBERT. 
HAYNES,  NICHOLAS.    Discharged  1862. 

JOHNSON,  ANSON  M.  N.     Was  a  waiter,  but  took  a  gun  and  went  into  the  fight,  and  was  killed 

at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

JUSTICE,  HENRY.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
JONES,  EDGAR  W.    Died  of  disease  after  battle  of  Bull  Run. 

LASON,'  GEORGE  W.    Wounded  at  Gettsburg;  re-enlisted;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness. 
LOWELL,  LEVI  F.    Re-enlisted  and  remained  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

MCLEAN,  PETER.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 

MESSENGER,  MOSES.    Wounded  at  South  Mountain ;  discharged  for  disability,  and  re-enlisted 

in  another  regiment. 

MARBLE,  HORATIO  G.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 
MILLER,  GEORGE  B.    Wounded  at  Bull  Run ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness ;   discharged 

with  the  regiment. 
MARTIN,  THOMAS.    See  pages  367-8. 

MOON,  REUBEN  H.    Discharged  at  Albany  for  non-consent  of  parents. 
MORGAN,  MILO.    Captured  at  Wilderness  and  died  at  Andersonville  August,  186-1. 

PARCE,  JUDSON  E.    Wounded  at  Bull  Run,  and  discharged  for  wound. 

PETERSON  DEFORREST.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 

PHELPS,  JOHN  H.    Discharged. 

PARSELOW,  JOHN  B.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 

PHILLIPS,  JAMES  A.    Discharged  for  disability. 

PENDER,  THEODORE  G.    Captured  at  Wilderness  and  died  at  Andersonville. 

PECK,  ELI  E.    Wounded  at  Gainesville,  (see  page  125) ;  discharged  for  wound. 

PEMBER,  LEWIS  P.    Discharged  for  disability. 

RUDDOCK,  NATHAN  S.    Wounded  at  Antietam ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

ROCKWELL,  HENRY  G.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

Ross,  HUGH.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

ROE,  GEORGE  W.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

SCRANTON,  HIRAM  D.    Died  at  Aquia  Creek  December  8th,  1862. 

SUTTON,  HENRY  C.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

SWAN,  PALMER.    Died  at  home  on  furlough  in  1863. 

SHARP,  THOMAS  H.    Taken  prisoner  and  enlisted  into  the  regular  army. 

SKINNER,  LUTHER.    Died  at  Alexandria  in  1862. 

SALISBURY,  DAVID.    Died  at  Mount  Pleasant  Hospital  in  1862. 

SMITH,  NEWTON  D.    Discharged. 

SPERRY,  MILES.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  ;  taken  prisoner  at  theWilderness,  and  discharged. 

tERGENT,  ARNOLD  S.    Discharged  for  disability  October  18th,  1863. 
AWYER,  ISAAC  N.    Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 
STEWART,  JAMES  W.    Discharged  for  disability. 
SPAULDING,  JAMES  M.    Wounded. 
THORINGTON,  GEORGE  E.     Wounded  on  picket  at  Fredericksburg,  December  15th,  1862,  and  at 

Gettysburg  Julylst,  1863. 
WELLS,  BENSON  W.   Lost  an  arm  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862,  and  discharged  in  consequence 

October  8th,  1862. 
WHITE,  ISAAC.   Discharged  for  disability  February  27th,  1862. 


COMPANY  C.  415 


COMPANY  C. 


GILMAN  D.  CRITTENDEN,  Captain.    Honorably  discharged. 
ELIAS  R.  WEAVER.  First  Lieutenant.    Honorably  discharged. 
MOSES  P.  MARSH,  Second  Lieutenant.    See  page  377. 

HENRY  H.  HOWE,  First  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  March,  1863. 
TYLER   CARMER,  Second  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  March,  1863. 
JAMES  C.  HATCH,  Third  Sergeant.    See  page  403. 

ROBERT  G.  DAVIDSON,  Fourth  Sergeant.    Ke-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;  promoted  to  First  Ser 
geant  February  1st,  1864,  and  to  Sergeant-Major  February  5th,  1865. 
EDWIN  FISH,  Fifth  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  May,  1863. 

HENRY  A.  SNOW,  First  Corporal.  Wounded  June  3d,  1864,  and  died  June  15th,  1864,  at  Alexan 
dria. 

CAKLOS  BALDWIN,  Second  Corporal.    See  page  379. 

GEORGE  N.  SHAW,  Third  Corporal.    Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

BYRON  C.  HOWELL,  Fourth  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  April  18th,  1862. 

HENRY  KNETTLES,  Fifth  Corporal.    Died  in  1864. 

HALLET  MAIN,  Sixth  Corporal.    Died  of  disease  after  Fredericksburg  battle. 

WILLIAM  A.  STUBBS,  Seventh  Corporal.    Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

CHARLES  HOWARD,  Eighth  Corporal.  Promoted  to  Second  Sergeant ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg ; 
killed  at  Wilderness  May  6th,  1864. 

MILO  LEWIS,  Musician.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

HENRY  R.  BUTMAN,  Musician.    Discharged  May,  1862. 

ASHER  WILCOX,  JR.,  Wagoner.    Discharged  in  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

AUSTIN,  BENJAMIN  H.    Discharged  in  1862. 

APGAR,  JOHN  G.    Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  in  1863,  and  discharged  at  expiration  Of  term. 
AVERY,  AMOS.    Discharged  early  in  1862. 
APGAR,  MELVILLE  B.    Discharged  December,  1862. 
ANDREWS,  JOHN  F.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term  November  8th,  1864. 

BALDWIN,  NEWTON.    Re-enlisted  ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness ;  discharged. 
BARTHOLOMEW,  N.  G.    See  page  388. 

BENNIE,  MARCUS  B.    Promoted  to  Second  Sergeant ;  discharged  January,  1863. 
BRADLY,  DANIEL.    Promoted  to  Corporal,  and  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
BACON,  GILBERT  G. 

CHAPIN,  JOHN  F.    Discharged. 

CASTERLINE,  WILLIAM. 

CRAMER,  MICHAEL.    Discharged. 

CASE,  DORSEY  D.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

DRAPER,  EGBERT.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

DABOLL,  JOHN.    Discharged  in  1862. 

DAVIS,  Lucius.    See  page  385. 

DIMON,  DANIEL.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

EVAN,  SHADRACK  E.    Discharged  in  1862. 
EDGCOMB,  ALBERT.    Discharged  in  1862. 

fERGUSoN,  WILLIAM  H. 
ULKERSON,  HENRY  S.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 
RANCIS,  CHARLES.     Wounded  at  Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  and  dis 
charged  at  the  close  of  war  by  General  Order  158. 
FREES,  HENRY  J.   Promoted  to  Corporal  and  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

GREENFIELD,  LUTHER.    Discharged  for  disability  April,  1862. 

GRISWOLD,  DANIEL  P.  Promoted  to  Corporal ;  lost  a  leg  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  dis 
charged. 

HOWELL,  TAPPAN.  Wounded  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  1862,  and  died  of  wound  Sep 
tember  28th,  1862. 

HOWELL,  HANNIBAL.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
HEATH,  ANSON. 

HIGGINS,  EUGENE.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
HUGHES,  CHARLES.    Wounded  at  Bull  Run  and  Gettysburg,  and  discharged. 
HARVEY,  CHARLES  R.    Died  at  Fredericksburg,  July,  1862. 
HOLMES,  JOHN  F.    Transferred  to  93d  N.  Y.  V.  at  Albany  in  1862. 
HICKS,  AMOS  A.    Discharged  at  Culpepper  in  April,  1864. 
LAMBERSON,  JOHN  A. 

LUTHER,  MELVILLE  A.    Wounded  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  1862,  and  discharged. 
LOWE,  HARLAN  P.    Discharged. 
LARABEE,  NELSON  B. 

MORGAN,  RODNEY  S.    Enlisted  into  the  cavalry  in  December.  1862. 

MCGREGOR,  DANIEL.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  (see  page  122),  and  died  soon. 

MOSIER,  WILLIAM  A.    Wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  May  10th,  1864 ;  discharged  at  expiration  of 

term. 

MONFORT,  HENRY  J.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
MCALLISTER,  WATTSFORD.    Discharged  for  disability. 
MAIN  HIRAM  C.    Discharged  in  1862. 
MILLER,  ALBERT  W.    Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 
McVEAN,  ROBERT. 

NORTON,  WILLIAM  D.  Died  of  measles  in  Cortland,  December  1861. 


416          THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

NEWTON,  BTJEDETTE.   Dischaged  for  disability  in  the  spring  of  1863. 

OBMSBT,  EDGAR.    Promoted  to  corporal ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  May.  1864.  and  discharged  at 
expiration  of  term. 

PATTERSON,  EDWARD  M.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 

PATTERSON,  EDWARD  L.    "Wounded  at  South  Mountain ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

PATTERSON,  GEORGE  F.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 

PECK,  STILES.    Taken  prisoner  at  Poplar  Grove  Church  December,  1864,  and  died  in  Anderson- 

ville  prison. 

POST,  GEORGE  M.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
PRATT,  GEORGE  F. 

FITTERS ATJGII,  ISAAC.    Discharged  for  disability  September  14th,  1862. 
PEAK,  WILLIAM.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

RYAN,  HENRY.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863 ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

RULISON,  CHARLES  H. 

SMITH,  HORACE  H.    Discharged  for  disability;  drafted  into  same  company. 

SATTERLY,  AMI.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  re-enlisted,  and  discharged  at  close 

of  war,  by  General  Order  158. 

STOUT,  GEORGE  W.    Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  30th,  1862,  and  died  in  1863. 
STONE,  EDWARD.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

TAYLOR  BENJAMIN.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

TEETER,  CICERO.    Discharged  for  disability. 

TEETER,  LEVERNE  E.    Promoted  to  Sergeant ;  wounded  at  Weldon  Railroad  August  22d,1864, 

and  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
TUCKER,  WILLIAM  H.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 
TEETER,  EDWARD  H.    Discharged  for  disability. 
TOPPING,  MARTIN. 
THOMPSON,  GEORGE  R.    Killed  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862. 

WRIGHT,  ORLAN.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

WOODMANCY,  NATHAN.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 

WOOD,  WILLIAM  A.    Wounded  at  Bull  Run  September  30th,  1862,  and  died  of  wound. 

WOOD,  JOHN  L.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  September  28th,  1862,  (seepage  122). 

WHITE,  JOHN  A.    Died  at  Alexandria  August,  1862. 

WEAVER,  HENRY  D.    Promoted  to  Corporal  and  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

WYCKOFF,  ALVIN.     Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  30th,  1862,  and  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863, 

and  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
WEBBER,  SAMUEL  S. 
STLLSON,  HJSNEY  c.   Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 


COMPANY  D. 

CHAELES  L.  WATEOTJS,  Captain..  See  page  381. 

EDWARD  D.  VAN  SLYCK,  First  Lieutenant.    See  pages  383-4. 

GEORGE  I.  FOSTER,  Second  Lieutenant.    Resigned  in  fall  of  1862.    Unable  to  procure  biography. 

UBERTO  A.  BTTRNHAM,  First  Sergeant.    See  page  367. 

BENJAMIN  F.  WATROUS,  Second  Sergeant.    Served  out  his  time,  and  discharged  May,  1865. 

MILTON  D.  ALLEN,  Third  Sergeant.    Discharged  in  fall  of  1862. 

WILLIAM  STRINGHAM,  Fourth  Sergeant.    See  page  387. 

GEORGE  W.  ARNOLD,  Fifth  Sergeant.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term  October  24th,  1864. 

LAVOISURE  STEBBINS,  First  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862,  and 
Petersburg  June  22d,  1864 ;  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant  company  I  April  20th  1864  and 
discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

GEORGE  M.  GUERNSEY,  Second  Corporal.    Died  at  Fredericksburg  August  2d,  1862. 

LYMAN  C.  GALPIN,  Third  Corporal.    Discharged  from  the  Invalia  Corps  at  expiration  of  term 

WILLIAM  H.  TARBELL,  Fourth  Corporal.    See  page  384. 

SAMUEL  D.  SQUIRES,  Fifth  Corporal.    Died  at  Fredericksburg  August  10th,  1862. 

THERON  C.  GUERNSEY,  Sixth  Corporal.    See  page  387. 

BENJAMIN  F.  MURRAY,  Seventh  Corporal.  Sent  on  detached  duty  on  Mississippi  Squadron 
February,  1862. 

JAY  WEBSTER,  Eighth  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Chantilly,  and  discharged  October  22d  1862  • 
joined  96th  Regiment  N.  Y.  V.,  and  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  died  at  City  Point  Au 
gust,  1864.  (See  pages  58  and  140). 

HENRY  B.  SWEATLAND,  Musician. 

GEORGE  O.  BOWEN,  Musician.  Transferred  to  Brigade  Band  January  23d,  1865 :  re-enlisted  • 
discharged  at  close  of  war  by  General  Order  158. 

CHAELES  S.  SPENCEB,  Wagoner.   Discharged  in  May  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

BUEDICK,  TEA  W.   Discharged  in  the  fall  of  1862. 
BENSCOTEN,  EDWIN  S. 

BROWN,  WILLIAM  H.  Wounded  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  1862,  and  discharged  about 
November,  1862. 


COMPANY  D.  417 


BENNETT,  WILLIAM.   Discharged  October  22d,  1862. 

BARTON,  JAMES  G. 

BARTON,  HARVEY  C.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term  in  1864. 

BOYCE,  LYMAN.    Discharged  for  disability. 

BRACE,  FRANCIS.    Taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864. 

BUNNELL,  ALONZO.    Discharged  at  Frederick  City,  Md.,  February,  1863. 

CUTLER,  GEORGE  D.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

COLVIN,  THOMAS  H.    Shot  through  the  head  and  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

CINNAMON,  JAMES.  Promoted  to  Color-Sergeant  for  bravery,  in  May,  1864,  Discharged  at  ex 
piration  of  term,  November  12th,  1864.  Re-enlisted  in  Hancock's  Veteran  Corps. 

CARR,  DANIEL.  Wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  died  at 
Annapolis,  Md.,  in  September  folio  wing. 

CARR,  ELIJAH. 

CARSON,  JAMES  R.    Discharged  in  September,  1862. 

CLARK.  JAMES  B.  Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864.  Promoted  to  Corporal  and  discharged  at  ex 
piration  of  term  by  General  Order  No.  158. 

CHURCHILL,  MORTIMER.    Discharged  in  December,  1862. 

CHIDESTER,  WILLIAM.    Taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  afterward  discharged. 

CULVER,  LLOYD  D.  Re-enlisted.  Taken  prisoner  at  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864,  and  missing  from 
that  time. 

DAVENPORT,  ORVILLE.    Discharged  October  22d,  1862. 

EVANS,  JOHN  J.  Wounded  in  leg  at  Gettysburg  Jnlv  1, 1863,  and  in  hand  at  Hatcher's  Run 
February  6, 1865 ;  promoted  to  Corporal  December,  1863 ;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864;  dis 
charged  at  end  of  war,  July  1865. 

FARBER,  JACOB.    Taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863.    Did  not  return. 
FISHER,  EUGENE.    Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864,  and  promoted  to  Corporal  August,  1864.    Dis 
charged  at  the  close  of  war,  July  3d,  1865,  by  General  Order  158. 

GRACE,  DORMAN. 

GRIMES,  JOSEPH.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

GOODELL,  DAVID. 

GARLICK,  FREDERICK  A.    Discharged  by  Secretary  of  War. 

HARDING,  JAMES.    Discharged  in  1862. 

HULL,  NORMAN  A. 

HERRON,  WILLIAM. 

HAWLEY,  GEORGE  W.  Wounded  in  leg  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862 ;  promoted  to  Corporal ; 
re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 :  killed  May  6th,1864,  carrying  flag  at  the  Wilderness.  (See  p.  290.) 

HOLDEN,  HABEN.    Discharged  October,  1862. 

HOPKINS,  LYMAN.  Promoted  to  Corporal  December,  1863 ;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;  dis 
charged  at  close  of  war,  by  General  Order  158. 

ISAACS,  JOHN  J.  Discharged  February,  1863 ;  joined  the  185th  N.  Y.  V.,  and  made  Second  Lieu 
tenant. 

JAMES,  JOHN  L.    In  all  battles  to  Antietam  ;  then  detailed  to  Division  Headquarters ;  in  fight 

near  Petersburg  ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October,  1864. 
JAMES,  EDWARD.     Wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Gainesville  ;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864  ; 

killed  at  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864. 

KNAPP,  HENRY  Z.    Discharged  January  llth,  1863. 

KELLOGG,  LEANDEE  M.   Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October,  1864. 

LULL,  JAMES.  "Wounded  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  1862 ;  enlisted  into  the  regular 
army  in  December,  1862 ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

MINER,  OSCAR  P.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  April  1st,  1864,  and  discharged  April 
18th,  1864,  for  disability. 

MAXON  GEORGE  D. 

MERRITT,  WILLARD  S.  Wounded  in  thigh  at  Coal  Harbor ;  also  at  Petersburg  and  Weldon 
Railroad  ;  taken  prisoner  at  Poplar  Grove  Church  ;  discharged  May  25th,  1865. 

MILES,  JOSEPH.    Wounded  in  shoulder  at  Gainesville,  and  died  in  consequence. 

MANTANYE,  WILLIAM  J.  Taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1833" -re-enlisted  February  9th, 
18.64 ;  detailed  to  Brigade  Headquarters  October  8th,  1864  ;  discharged  at  close  of  war,  by  Gen 
eral  Order  No.  158. 

NORTON,  PARMENUS  A.  Promoted  to  Corporal  April,  1863 ;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;  pro 
moted  to  Sergeant  April,  1864 ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  May  8th,  1864  ;  lost  an  arm  at  Weldou 
Railroad  August  21st,  186-1.  Discharged. 

NORTHRUP,  MARTIN  V.  B.    Discharged  in  January,  1863. 

NEWBEY,  FLOYD. 

PIKE,  GARRET  S.   Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;  killed  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864. 

PEARKINS,  HENRY. 

PECKHAM,  LAWTON.    Died  March  1862. 

REAGAN,  PATRICK.    Taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862.    Discharged. 
ROBERTSON,  WM.  W.    Died  at  Fort  Massachusetts  April  4th,  1862. 
RYAN,  WILLIAM.    Shot  in  neck  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  discharged. 
ROUNDY,  CHARLES  W.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October  1864. 

SANFORD,  LAFAYETTE.    Discharged  at  Albany  January,  1862. 

SMITH  ALBERT  F.    Discharged  October  27th,  1862  ;  re-enlisted  December  23d,  1863;  promoted  to 

Corporal  April,  1864 ;   wounded  at  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864 ;   transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps;  discharged  July  24th,  1865. 
SMITH,  WILLIAM  N.     Promoted  to  Corporal  June,  1862,  and  to  Sergeant  April,  1864  ;  wounded 

and  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863 ;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;   discharged  at 

close  of  war,  July  3d,  1865,  by  General  Order  158. 


418  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

SMITH,  D.  WEBSTER.  Promoted  to  Corporal  October,  1863;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864;  killed 
at  Petersburg  June  2lst,  1864.  (See  page  310). 

STUART,  JAMES.  Taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863;  re-enlisted  January,  1864;  dis 
charged  at  the  close  of  war  July  3d,  1865,  by  General  Order  158. 

SPENCER,  JOHN  E,    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term  in  1864. 

SPENCER,  SAMUEL  G.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  died  of  wound  soon  after. 

SPENCER,  JAMES  B. 

SWEET,  WILLIAM  M.  Wounded  in  hip  at  Bull  Run  August  30th,  1862,  and  taken  prisoner  ;  dis 
charged  at  expiration  of  term,  October  4th,  1864. 

SEWARD,  ARTHUR  li.  Promoted  to  Corporal  October  1st,  1863  ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilder 
ness  May  5th,  1864 ;  discharged  May,  1865. 

STALTER,  BARTHOLOMEW.    Discharged  at  Fort  Slocum,  D.  C.,  May,  1862. 

STUART  DAVID. 

STUART,  HORACE  G.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

'ARBELL  SIMON.     Wounded  in  arm  at  Gel 
ness  May  5th,  1864 ;  discharged  in  spring 


TARBELL  SIMON.     Wounded  in  arm  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863 ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilder 
ness  May  5th,  1864 ;  discharged  in  spring  of  1865. 
TUTTLE,  .JAMES  C.     lie-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;   promoted  to  Corporal  April  1864 ;   killed  at 


Wilderness  Mav  6th,  1864. 
VERREAU,  FRANCIS  E.     Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862;   died  of  wound  in  hospital 

September,  1862. 
VAN  WORMER,  DAVID. 
VOSBURG,  MARION.    Discharged  at  Fort  Slocum,  D.  C.,  April,  1862. 

WATROUS,  GEORGE  E.  Wounded  in  leg  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  January 
1st,  18(54  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  May  8th,  1861 ;  discharged  at  close  of  war,  July  3d,  1865,  by 
General  Order  158. 

WILSON,  JOHN.  Promoted  to  Corporal  December,  1862,  and  to  Sergeant  April,  186-1 ;  discharged 
at  expiration  of  term,  October,  18(4. 

WILCOX,  FREDERICK  W.    Died  in  Winter  of  1861-2. 

WATSON,  WILLIAM  R. 

WATSON,  WILLIAM  W. 

WEDGE,  ORLANDO.  Taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run  August  20th,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864  ; 
severely  wounded  in  the  leg  at  the  Wilderness  May  6th,  1864 ;  discharged  after  close  of  war  in 
1865. 

WILBUR,  THOMAS.  Promoted  to  Corporal  December,  1863 ;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864 ;  dis 
charged  at  close  of  war,  July  3d,  1865,  by  General  Order  158. 

WEDGE,  OSCAR.    Discharged  for  disability  in  fall  of  1862. 

WEDGE,  ALONZO.    Discharged  April,  1862. 

WAY,  HARVEY  D.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  ;  discharged  in  fall  of  1862. 

FISHER,  JOHN.    See  page  403. 


COMPANY  E  * 


WILLIAM  H.  POWELL,  Captain.    Resigned  March  28th,  1863.    No  biography. 

JOHN  H.  BALLARD,  First  Lieutenant.    See  page  391. 

SANFORD  M.  POWELL,  Second  Lieutenant.    Resigned  February  14th,  1863.    No  biography. 

GIDEON  PRENTICE,  First  Sergeant.    Wounded.    Discharged  for  disability  December  8th,  1862. 

JAMES  BRAYMAN,  Second  Sergeant. 

DANIEL  M.  PERRY,  Third  Sergeant.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  discharged. 

THOMAS  B.  HEWITT,  Fourth  Sergeant. 

JAMES  WRIGHT,  Fifth  Sergeant. 

JULIUS  W.  BRAGG,  First  Corporal. 

GEORGE  B.  WITLER,  Second  Corporal. 

CORTLAND  G.  YOUNG,  Third  Corporal.  Deserted  in  1862  ;  enlisted  in  22d  N.  Y.  Cavalry  in  Jan 
uary,  1864  ;  taken  prisoner  June,  1864  ;  died  at  Audersonville  September  14th,  1864  ;  buried  in 
grave  No.  8733. 

PALMER  Z.  RICE,  Fourth  Corporal. 

ORLANDO  W.  HUTCHINSON,  Fifth  Corporal.    Died  in  hospital  April  21st,  1862. 

CHARLES  KENYON,  Sixth  Corporal. 

JOB  NORWOOD,  Seventh  Corporal.    See  page  409. 

ELI  A.  BERRY  Eighth  Corporal.  Taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863;  exchanged  De 
cember  28th,  1863 ;  discharged  October  4th,  1864,  at  expiration  of  term. 

GEORGE  W.  NORTHRUP,  Musician.    Discharged  for  disability. 

FRjAfKLiN  BLISS,  Musician. 

JAMES  B.  PALMESTON,  Wagoner.    Wounded  June  18th,  1864,  and  died  of  wound  June  24th,  186-1. 

PRIVATES. 
ALLEN,  NELSON  A.  D. 
BOYCE,  ALLEN.    Discharged  for  disability  May  20th,  1862. 

*Very  many  of  the  men  of  this  Company  are  unaccounted  for,  because  the  rolls  are  not  ac 
cessible,  and  the  officers  have  failed  to  respond  to  letters  of  inquiry.  Much  of  the  information 
has  been  derived  from  Lieutenant  Job  Norwood. 


COMPANY  E.  419 


BOYCE,  JACOB.    Discharged  for  disability  November  29th,  1862. 

BARROWS,  EBEN  E. 

BEIBER,  PHILLIP. 

BRAZEE,  FRANKLIN. 

BURTON,  OREN  W. 

BAKEMAN,  GEORGE  H. 

BUSH,  JAMES  B.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

Cox,  EDWIN  J. 

CHAPMAN,  HIRAM.    Discharged  April  20th,  1862. 

COLLINS,  BARTHOLOMEW. 

CIIEENEY,  BENJAMIN  F. 

CHAFEE,  CALVIN. 

CORL,  FRANKLIN  B. 

CHAFEE,  JOHN  C.    Discharged  April  20th,  1862. 

CRAPO,  ELIAKIM.    Died  at  Culpepper  forepart  of  1864. 

COMSTOOK,  ADOLPHUS  A.  Promoted  to  First  Sergeant  March  16th,  1864 ;  killed  June  3d,  1864. 
(See  page  302). 

CRANDALL,  HENRY. 

CHURCH,  ORRIS.  Taken  prisoner  on  Weldon  Railroad  in  1864 ;  paroled  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  Feb 
ruary,  1865. 

CORNFORD,  WILLIAM  H. 

DEMARAUVILLE,  JAMES  S.    Discharged  for  disability  November  26th,  1862. 
DUGGAN,  JAMES. 
DURKEE,  ABIJAH. 

DODGE,'  C.  B.  Substitute  for  George  Love.  Taken  prisoner  at  Wilderness  May  5th,  186-1 ;  died 
at  Andersonville. 

FOSTER,  AMOS.    Discharged. 
FINCH,  MARCELLUS. 

GOWAR,  THOMAS  B. 

GIBSON,  OSCAR.   Taken  prisoner  July  1st,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  and  died  on  Belle  Isle,  Va. 

HAMILTON,  JAMES  W. 
HYDE,  PETER  B. 

HAVILAND,  EDGAR  D.    Promoted  to  Sergeant  January  1st,  1863;  re-enlisted  January  1st,  1364  ; 

killed  at  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 

HARRIS,  GEORGE  J.    Killed  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862. 
HAMMOND,  IRA. 
HOUGHTALING,  EMMET. 
HOWARD,  BRAZILLA. 

HOUGHTALING,  MILTON  S.    Died  at  Aquia  Creek,  December  16th,  1862. 
HOLBROOK,  WARREN.    Killed  near  Petersburg  June  22d,  1864. 

HUNGERFOED,  JAMES  E. 

IVES,  SAMUEL  H. 
JOHNSON,  WAEEEN  W. 

KELLOGG,  VALDA  L.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October  4th,  1864. 
KENYON,  HENRY  P.    Wounded  July  1st,  1863, at  Gettysburg;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  De 
cember  31st,  1863  ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  November  28th,  1864. 
KELLEY,  EDWARD.    Lost  leg  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862,  and  died  of  wound.    (Seep.  126). 
KIMBALL,  GEORGE  D. 

LAWRENCE,  LUCAS  F.   Killed  at  Hatcher's  Run,  Va.,  February  7th,  1864. 
LUSK,  WILLIAM  J. 

MADISON,  ORLANDO.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October  8th,  1861. 

MORTON,  SQUIRE.    Killed  at  Spottsylvania  May  12th,  1864. 

MORENUS,  WILLIAM. 

Mix,  JOEL.    Died  on  the  road  to  Cedar  Mountain,  August,  1862. 

MARSH,  WASHINGTON, 

MOORE,  GEORGE  W.    Died  in  hospital. 

MORSE,  LEWIS  M. 

MclNTYRE,  RENSSELAEE.    Died  in  hospital,  D.  C.,  March  31st,  1862. 

NORTHRUP,  GEORGE  L.  Promoted  to  Corporal ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863 ;  dis 
charged  December  nth,  1863. 

OLNEY,  MARION.   Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

OWEN,  ABNER  W. 

OBTON,  JAMES.   Discharged  for  disability  November  27th,  1862. 

ETEDWELL,  GEORGE.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 
HOULTUS,  SEYMOUE. 
SEWARD,  ALONZO. 

SATTERLEE,  LYMAN  J.   Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October  4th,  1864. 
STEELE,  SYLVESTER. 

TARBOX,  WORDEN  M. 

TOTMAN,  CALVIN.    Discharged  for  disability.    (See  pages  52-3). 

TRIM,  WILLIAM.    Deserted  and  joined  another  regiment. 

TROWBRIDGE,  DUANE. 

TALBOT,  JOSEPHUS. 


420  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 


WEBB,  LEWIS  B. 

WKIGHT,  WILLIAM  H.    Re-enlisted  January,  1864  ;  discharged  at  close  of  war  July  15th,  1865. 

WILSON,  HENRY.    Discharged  for  disability,  June  14th,  1862. 

WOOD,  WALTER.    Promoted  to  Sergeant  June  25th,  1863  ;  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

YOUNG,  THOMAS  J.    Discharged  March,  1862. 
YOUNG,  DAVID. 

ZEH,  HOLMES.    Discharged  in  1863. 
SPITZER,  RICHARD  B. 


COMPANY  F. 

JOHN  H.  BARNARD,  Captain.    See  page  392. 

ELIAS  A.  MEAD,  First  Lieutenant.  Wounded  at  Autietam  September  17th,  1862,  and  discharged. 

Unable  to  procure  his  biography. 
WILLIAM  W.  GKEEN,  Second  Lieutenant.    See  page  394. 

DELOS  V.  CALDWELL,  First  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  November  22d,  1862. 

LAWRENCE  M.  BANKER,  Second  Sergeant.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862.  (See  p.  122). 

HENKY  CLIFF,  Third  Sergeant.    See  page  400. 

HUBERT  CARPENTER,  Fourth  Sergeant.    See  page  363. 

OHRIN  H.  ELLIS,  Fifth  Sergeant.    Died  at  Fort  Totten  in  spring  of  1862. 

RALPH  E.  TUCKER,  First  Corporal.  Promoted  to  Sergeant ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st, 
1863;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

JAMES  H.  YOUNG,  Second  Corporal.    Wounded. 

MARION  WILCOX,  Third  Corporal.    Discharged  at  Washington  in  1862. 

CLINTON  D.  BOUTON,  Fourth  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  dis 
charged. 

LEWIS  SWEET,  Fifth  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  July  9th,  1863. 

JOHN  D.  TRIPP,  Sixth  Corporal.  Discharged  for  disability  April  5th,  1862  ;  was  afterwards  one 
year  and  three  months  Medical  Cadet  in  U.  S.  A. 

OSMER  HILL,  Seventh  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  August  12th,  1862. 

ALONZO  B.  WAGONER,  Eighth  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  at  the 
Wilderness  May  6th,  18(54;  discharged  September  6th,  1864. 

MILTON  B.  HART,  Musician. 

JOHN  DART,  Musician. 

BOWNE  YATES,  Wagoner.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  and  discharged  for  disability. 

PRIVATES. 

BARTON,  WILLIAM  H.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  died  at  New  York  February 
18th, 1863. 

BANKER,  ISAAC  W.  Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  Febru 
ary  7th,  1863.  (See  page  122) . 

BRADT,  SIMON  S.  AY  ounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  Fredericksburg  December 
13th,  1862. 

BROOKS,  IRA  S.    Discharged  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  1862. 

BENTON,  WILLIAM.    Discharged  for  disability. 

CARD,  CHESTER  P.    Taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864. 

CADOGAN,  WALTER. 

COYLE,  LORENZO. 

CARD,  JAMES  J.    Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862,  and  at  Fredericksburg  December 

13th,  1862.    (See  page  122) . 
COMPTON,  SILAS.    Discharged. 

DEWEY.  ALFRED. 

DODGE,  WILLIAM  E.    Died  of  measles,  in  1861. 

DICKINSON,  ORVILLE.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

DRAPER,  RICHARD.    Discharged  in  1862. 

DUNBAB,  DANIEL.    Died  at  Fort  Massachusetts  April,  1862. 

EDWARDS,  PATTERSON  E.   Discharged  1862. 
EVANS,  EARLE.    See  page  404. 

FITTS,  CHARLES.   Discharged  in  1862. 

GEE,  WILLIAM  R.    Discharged  in  1862. 

GLOVER,  CHARLES.    Taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  186-1 ;  discharged  in  1865. 

GIFFORD,  ALLEN  F.    Discharged  in  1863. 

HINES,  JAMES  G.    Discharged  at  Fort  Totten  in  spring  of  1862. 

HOY,  MARTIN.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  discharged. 

HYDE,  CHARLES  G.    Discharged  at  Washington,  December  1st,  1862. 

HAVILAND,  MYRON  W. 

HULBERT,  EDWIN  R. 

HEMT,  GEORGE  A.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

HYDE,  NORMAN  B.    Discharged  at  Washington  September,  1862. 

HENRY,  LEVI  S,   Taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1854,  and  sent  to  Audersonville 

prison. 

HAWKS,  WILLIAM  H. 
HOLMES,  CLABK. 


COMPANY  G.  421 

HOFFMAN,  THOMAS  H.    Wounded  through  knees  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  died  from 
HOLDENT,  BxtrjAKEW  F.    Promoted  to  Corporal  and  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
JOHNSON,  JAMES.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  killed  at  Spottsylvania  May 

12th, 1804. 

JONKS,  LEAXDER  T.    Died  at  New  York,  October  2d,  1862. 
JUDSON,  LESTER.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  discharged. 

LASON,  GEORGE  L.    Discharged  for  disability  November  1862 

LASOX,  HENRY  P.    Lost  an  arm  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862 ;  discharged  October  9th,  1862. 

LIXDSAY,  JOHX.    Died  at  Fredericksburg  June  27th,  1862. 

LEWIS,  EDGAR  S. 

MCFALL,  HENRY.    Killed  at  Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862.    (Sec  page  192). 

MCFALL,  LYMAX. 

MCKONE,  PATRICK.    Discharged.    (See.  page  54). 

MCGREGOR,  DKWITT  C.  Wounded  twice,  at  Gainesville  August  29th,  1862;  Promoted  to  Ser 
geant  January  24th,  1«63;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  16th,  1863;  re-en 
listed  May  7th,  18(54,  in  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

MASTOX,  BRITTOX.    Discharged  at  Washington  in  1862. 

MILLER,  FRAXKLIX.    Killed  at  Wall  Run  August  29th,  1862. 

MATTESOX,  GEORGE  W.  Promoted  to  Corporal  in  1862  ;  wounded  at  South  Mountain  Septem 
ber  14th,  1862  ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864. 

MATTISOX,  DAVID.    Taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness,  and  died  at  Andersonville  prison. 

MORSE,  ADOLPHUS.    Died  at  Fort  Jefferson,  Florida.    (See  page  274). 

MORSE,  HIRAM.  Taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864,  and  died  at  Andersonville 
prison. 

McCOBMiCK,  THOMAS. 

MANN,  EUGENE. 

MONTGOMERY,  DAXIEL  R.  Promoted  to  Sergeant  November  28th,  1862  ;  wounded  at  Gettys 
burg  July  1st,  1863. 

NORWOOD,  WESLEY.    Discharged  for  disability,  and  died  at  home  in  Harford. 

PORTER,  JOHX  W.  Wounded  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  1862 ;  taken  prisoner  at  the 
Wilderness  May  5th,  1864. 

PANGBORX,  SAMUEL.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

PELHAM,  BENJAMIN.    Discharged  in  1862. 

PETERS,  GEORGE.  Promoted  to  Corporal  July,  1862 ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863  ;  dis 
charged  at  expiration  of  term  October  24th,  1864. 

PERSONS,  WILLIAM  H.  Transferred  to  Marine  Corps  February,  1862,  and  killed  on  the  gunboat 
"  Mound  City." 

PIERCE,  BENTON. 

PECK,  EGBERT.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  discharged  for  disability. 

RUMSEY,  JOB  B. 

RKMMELY,  ALBERT.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 

RIXDGE,  SCEPTY.     Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863, 

and  discharged. 
RANDALL,  ABNER  B.     Taken  prisoner  at  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864,  and  died  at  Andersonville 

prison  September  20th,  1864. 

SNOOK,  DAVID  L. 

SCHERMERHORN, HENRY  C. 

SMITH,  GEORGE  W.    Lost  a  leg  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,  and  discharged  May  20th,  1864. 
SHELDON,  EUGENE.    Died  at  Meridian  Hill,  D.  C.,  March,  1862. 

SHAPLEY,  GEORGE  W.  Wounded  in  leg  at  Second  Bull  Run  August  30th,  1862 ;  discharged  Jan 
uary  19th,  1863. 

TANNER,  DANIEL.    Discharged  for  disability  September  7th,  1862. 
UNDERWOOD,  GEORGE  W.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1863. 

VANDEPOOLE,  JOHN.    Wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  30th,  1862. 
VANDEPOOLE,  SIMON. 

WAGONER,  GARRET  L. 

WEILER,  GEORGE  F.     Promoted  to  Sergeant ;   wounded  at  South  Mountain  September  14th, 

1862 ;  killed  at  Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862. 
WALKER,  WILLIAM  V. 

WOOD,  FRANCIS.    Killed  at  Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862. 
WOODIN,  ALEXANDER  E.    Discharged  for  disability. 
WABKEN,  ELON  G.    Taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864,  and  died  at  Andersonville. 


COMPANY  G. 

WILLIAM  LANSING,  Captain.    Resigned  in  February,  1862,  at  Meridian  Hill. 
AARON  SAGER,  First  Lieutenant.    See  page  401. 
JAMES  L.  GODDARD,  Second  Lieutenant.    See  page  393. 


•±22  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

THOMAS  SIMMS,  First  Sergeant.  Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  mustered  out  on  certifi 
cate  of  disability. 

ABRAM  H.  SAGBK,  Second  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  at  Washington. 

FREEMAN  SCHERMERHORN,  Third  Sergeant. 

RODNEY  L.  MORSE,  Fourth  Sergeant. 

JOHN  W.  ROE,  JR.,  Fifth  Sergeant. 

SAMUEL  E.  SANDERS,  First  Corporal.  Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant ;  wounded  at  Gettys 
burg. 

HENRY  W.  MANN,  Second  Corporal. 

HOMER  D.  CALL,  Third  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862  ;  promoted 
to  Second  Lieutenant  April  13th,  1863,  and  to  First  Lieutenant  March  1864  ;  taken  prisoner  at 
the  Wilderness,  and  had  Yellow  Fever  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  Mustered  out  on  expiration  of 
term,  February  4th,1865. 

WILLIAM  MCLEAN,  Fourth  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862,  and  dis 
charged  in  consequence.  » 

LEVI  BULLMAN,  Fifth  Corporal.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  and  died  of  wound. 

KLLIS  Z.  SMITH,  Sixth  Corporal.    Discharged  at  Fort  Slocum  in  spring  of  1862. 

N  VPOLEON  B.  NELSON,  Seventh  Corporal.    Died  at  Fort  Massachusetts  April,  1862. 

AMASA  WILLIAMS,  Eighth  Corporal. 

CIIAUNCEY  SEAMANS,  Musician. 

EDWARD  B.  GOODELL,  Musician.    Discharged  for  disability  June  27th,  1863. 

ISRAEL  KECKARD,  Wagoner.    Discharged  for  disability  May,  18(52.    A  most  faithful  man. 

PRIVATES. 

ALLEN,  SEYMOUR  R. 

ALLEN,  ALFRED. 

AUSTIN,  GARDNER. 

ACKLEY,  DE  w  ITT  C.    Injured  by  a  wagon  in  Philadelphia ;  discharged  in  December,  1862. 

APPLEBEE,  DARIUS  W.    Discharged  for  disability. 

BURLINGHAM,  TRUMAN. 

BREWER,  EDGAR.    Discharged  for  disability  March,  1862. 
BACON,  GEORGE  H.    Killed  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862. 

BRIGGS,  WILLIAM  F.    Wounded  in  thigh  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862.     Discharged  Decem 
ber  8th,  1862. 
BARNES,  JOHN.    Lost  an  arm  at  Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862,  and  discharged. 

BOUTON,  JAMES.    Discharged. 

COWLEN,  JAMES.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg.  July  1, 1863;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  and  dis 
charged  at  expiration  of  term. 

CUSHING,  EUGENE.    Discharged  from  small  pox  hospital. 

CORNUB,  JOHN. 

COOK,  CHARLES  WESLEY.  Wounded  at  Petersburg  June  18th,  1864,  and  discharged  by  General 
Order  116. 

CVMMINGS,  WILLIAM  H.    Re-enlisted  February,  1864,  and  discharged  at  close  of  war. 

CORWIN,  POLYDORE  B.,  Jr.  Wounded  at  South  Mountain  Sept.  14, 1862,  and  subsequently  dis 
charged. 

CULVER,  GEORGE  M.    Died  on  the  march  from  Fredericksburg  to  Culpepper. 

CRAWFORD  CHARLES  H. 

DODGE,  ARTEMAS.    Killed  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  1862. 
DURR,  JOHN. 

EARL,  WILLIAM  H.    At  the  battle  of  Gainesville,  since  which,  not  known. 
ELLIOTT,  WILLIAM.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

G  \LPIN,  WILLIAM  H.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg;  promoted  to  Corporal,  then  to  Sergeant,  and 

killed  at  Petersburg  June  18th,  1864. 

GAFF,  JOHN  THOMAS.    Died  at  Fort  Slocum  in  Spring  of  1862. 
GAY,  FRANKLIN  L.    Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
GALVIN,  MICHAEL.    Killed  at  the  Wilderness  May  5th,  1864. 

HICKEY,  JAMES  E. 

HOLLENBECK,  ALBERT.    Wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863 ;  wounded  at 

Laurel  Hill  May  8th,  1864,  and  at  Petersburg,  October,  1864 ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term , 

October  22d,  1864. 

HILLS,  CHARLES.    At  Second  Fredericksburg,  since  which,  not  known. 
HILLS,  SAMUEL.    Killed  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862. 
HILLS,  RALPH  WM.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

HOLMES,  HENRY.    In  battle  i  irst  and  Second  Fredericksburg  ;  since  which,  not  known. 
HAGGERTY,  TIMOTHY. 

JEFFREY,  CHARLES  J.    Discharged. 
JKFFERS,  CHARLES  W. 

KIBBE,  ALMON  W.    Discharged  for  disability. 
LOMEREAUX,  ANDREW.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
LATHROP,  WARREN  S. 

MERRICK,  CHAPIN  W.  Taken  prisoner  at  Gainesville ;  promoted  to  Corporal,  and  killed  at  Get 
tysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

MCLEAN,  DANIEL.  Promoted  to  Corporal ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863 ;  promoted 
to  Sergeant  May  20th,  1864;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania  ;  discharged  September  20th,  1864. 

MURRAY,  OSCAR.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 

MILLER,  WILLIAM.    Promoted  to  Sergeant ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

MATTHEWS,  DAVID  R. 


COMPANY  H.  423 


NOBLES,  CHARLES  E.    Took  leave  after  the  battles  of  Gainesville  and  Bull  Run. 

OLIX,  ALBERT  M.    Killed  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862.    (See  page  122). 

ORSWOLD,  HIRONOMOVS.    Wounded  at  South  Mountain  September  14th,  18(52,  and  discharged  at 

expiration  of  term. 
O'KEEFE,  DAVID.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1SC2  ;   transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps  July  1st,  1863,  and  discharged. 

PERRY,  EDWIX  M. 
PEXDER,  LYMAX  R. 

PARKER,  SYLVAXUS  E.    Detached  on  hospital  duty. 
POOLER,  LAFAYETTE.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
POOLER,  WILLIAM  L.    Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 

POOLER,  HENUY  D.    In  battles  of  Gainesville,"  Bull  Run,  First  and  Second  Fredericksburg  ; 
since  which  not  known. 

RAXKIX,  WILLIAM  II.    Missing  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863. 

REED,  MELVIX.     In  battles  of  Gainesville,  Uull  Run,  South  Mountain  and  Second  Fredericks- 
burg  ;  since  which  not  known. 
RICE,  WILLIAM. 
RANDALL,  EDWIN  N. 

SEACOXD,  JOHN.     In  battles  of  Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  and  South  Mountain;  since  which  not 

known. 

SMITH,  RIIFTTS.    Died  at  Fort  Slocuin,  D.  C.,  in  spring  of  1862. 
SCHERMERHORX,  SEYMOUR.    Died  at  Albany  in  winter  of  1861-2. 
STEELE,  GEORGE  W.    Promoted  to  Sergeant  and  First  Lieutenant ;   wounded  at  Gettysburg 

July  1st,  186:! ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term. 
SPENCER,  BERTRAXD.    Died  on  sick  leave. 
SMITH,  CYRUS.    Discharged  from  a  hospital. 

SEEBER.  JOHN  L.    Promoted  to  Corporal  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
STONE,  DEWITT  C. 
SEAMAXS,  HEXRY  C. 

SEACORD,  WILLIAM  B. 

WEST,  DAXIEL.    Not  known  since  battle  of  First  Frcdericksbnrg,  December  13th,  1862. 

WOOD,  JOHX  B.  C. 

WATTLES,  LEMUEL.    Discharged. 

WTATTLES,  WILLIAM.    Discharged. 

WILLIAMS,  BEN.IAMIX. 

WRIGHT,  JAMES  B. 

PAYSOX,  WILLIAM. 


COMPANY  H.* 


AMOS  L.  SWAN,  Captain.    See  pages  357-8. 

M.  B.  CLEAVELAXD,  First  Lieutenant.    Resigned  March  1st,  1862. 

ROBERT  STORY,  Second  Lieutenant.    See  pages  371-2. 

RALPH  W.  CARRIER,  First  Sergeant.    Seepage  405. 

BAKXEY  PHENIS,  Second  Sergeant.    See  page  386. 

GEORGE  LOOMIS,  Third  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability  soon  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run. 

JAMES  GEORGE,  Fourth  Sergeant.  A  good  soldier ;  wounded  in  leg  at  Gainesville ;  re-enlisted  . 
taken  prisoner  at  Wilderness,  and  remained  at  Andcrsonville  till  exchange  ;  discharged  in 
April,  1865. 

SAMUEL  LTJDLAM,  Fifth  Sergeant.  Wounded  at  South  Mountain,  and  discharged  from  the  ef 
fects  of  it. 

WILLIAM  HOYT,  First  Corporal.    A  good  soldier ;  re-enlisted  and  served  till  close  of  war. 

JESSE  HOWE,  Second  Corporal.  A  good  soldier  for  every  duty  but  fighting;  re-enlisted; 
wounded  at  the  'Wilderness,  and  transferred  to  Reserve  Corps. 

ALLEX  W.  THOMPSOX,  Third  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  in  May,  1862. 

PERRY  OAKS,  Fourth  Corporal.  An  excellent  soldier  and  man  ;  killed  in  battle  at  Gainesville, 
August  28th,  1862. 

JACOB  .1.  REESE,  Fifth  Corporal.  A  good  soldier,  always  at  his  post  ;  wounded  at  Gainesville  ; 
re-enlisted,  and  wounded  in  the  other  hand ;  promoted  to  Lieutenant,  and  honorably  dis 
charged  in  spring  of  1865. 

JOHN  RUSSELL,  Sixth  Corporal.     A  good  soldier ;  re-enlisted  and  killed  at  Coal  Harbor  June, 

'  n-ff  CAVPTVFT.T,.  Seventh  flnrnnral.    Won  Tided  at.  Gninps',,,.^  „.  .,„„„  ,,»..^  ,„.*, ,v...«,.H"--"« 

ile  on  furlough  in  December,  1862. 


BRAYTOX  CAMPBELL,  Seventh  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  in  right  hand  ,and  discharged. 
OTHELLO  VAX  VALKEXBTJRG,  Eighth  Corporal.    Deserted  whil 


*The  record  of  this  Company  was  made  by  its  gallant  Captain.  Some  of  the  harsher  truths 
concerning  deserters  and.  "  beats,"  have  been  omitted  for  the  sake  of  uniformity.  It  would  have 
been  much  better  had  the  officers  all  given  their  men  their  true  character,  after  the  manner  of 
Captain  Swan. 


424  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Y. 

WILLIAM  A.  WARNER,  Musician.    A  good  boy  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  faithfully  to  the  end  of 
the  war. 

PRIVATES. 
ALLEN  WINSLOW.    See  pages  260,  261,  262. 

BUSH,  JOSEPH.    Served  his  three  years  of  time  as  teamster  and  discharged. 

BILLINGS,  CHARLES  H.    Served  his  three  years  and  honorably  discharged. 

BAKER,  ERVING.    One  of  the  bravest  and  best  of  soldiers  ;  promoted  to  Sergeant  ;  wounded  at 

Gettysburg  in  leg  and  foot  and  in  other  leg  at  Coal  Harbor,  and  honorably  discharged.    (See 

pages  212,  213.) 
BKONSON,  JAY.    A  faithtul  soldier;  detailed  with  Ambulance  Corps;  wounded  in  right  arm  at 

Weldon  Railroad  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  till  end  of  war. 
BELKNAP,  LEWIS  H.    A  shirk  ;  re-enlisted  and  discharged  at  end  of  war. 
BOLSTER,  EDWARD.    A  "  dead  beat  ;"  re-enlisted,  got  sick  and  put  in  Invalid  Corps. 
BARTLETT,  JEROME.    Discharged  for  disability  in  summer  of  1862. 
BASWORTH,  GEORGE.    A  good  soldier  ;  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863. 
BABCOCK,  FRANK.    Died  in  hospital  spring  of  1862. 
BLACKMAN,  LEWIS.    A  good  soldier  ;  wounded  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862  ;  killed  at  Gettys 

burg  July  1st,  1863. 
BISHOP.  MARVIN  P.    A  good  soldier  ;  re-enlisted  and  killed  in  front  of  Petersburg  while  out  as 

skirmisher. 
BROWN,  WILLIAM  H.    Re-enlisted  ;  promoted  to  Sergeant  ;  wounded  in  leg  at  Gettysburg.    A 

faithful  soldier. 

CLARK,  WILLIAM.    One  of  the  best  boys  in  the  Company  ;  always  at  his  post  ;  went  through  to 

the  end  of  the  war. 

CLARK,  CHARLES  L.    Served  his  three  years,  mostly  as  teamster,  and  honorably  discharged. 
CROUNSE,  GEORGE  F.    Deserted  before  the  Company  left  Cherry  Valley. 
CONKEY,  LANSON  F.    Served  three  years  and  honorublv  discharged. 
CHANDLER  CHARLES.    Discharged  for  disability  April,  1862. 
COLE,  JASPER  C.    Deserted  from  Fort  Massachusetts. 
CLARK,  JOHN  A.    Died  at  Fredericksburg  in  July,  1862. 

DAWSON,  JOHN.    A  faithful  and  trusty  soldier  ;  killed  at  Gettysburg. 
DECKER,  JOSEPH  H.    Deserted  before  the  Company  left  Cherry  Valley. 
DINGMAN,  CHARLES  R.    Wounded  in  hand  at  Gainesville  and  discharged. 
DAVIS,  CHARLES.    A  good  soldier  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to  end  of  war. 

DUTCHER,  JAMES  H.    A  poor  concern  ;  badly  scared  at  Gainesville  ;  played  sick  ;  got  discharged  ; 
re-enlisted  ;  shot  his  leg  to  get  off,  but  died  from  the  wound. 

EMBRIDGE,  AMBROSE.    A  good  soldier  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to  end  of  the  war. 

FONDA,  LORENZO.    Always  on  hand;  re-enlisted;  badly  wounded  in  body  at  Coal  Harbor,  but 

stuck  through  the  war. 
FERN,  JOHN  S.    A  faithful  teamster  and  wagon-master  ;  discharged  for  disability  in  winter  of 


FINNEGAN,  JOHN.    Always  ready  for  mischief  and  usually  for  duty  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to 

FENTON,  THOMAS.    A  "  poor  stick  ;"  discharged  for  pretended  disability  in  fall  of  1862. 
POLAND,  ALFRED.    A  No.  1  soldier  ;  made  Sergeant  ;  re-enlisted  and  went  through  to  the  end  of 

Fox,  B.  j!  D.    A  first-class  soldier  ;  made  Sergeant  ;  killed  at  the  Wilderness  May  5,  1864. 
GRIGGS,  JOHN  R.    Taken  prisoner  at  second  Bull  Run  ;  exchanged  and  deserted  from  Camp 

Parole,  Annapolis. 

GROSS,  ALBERT.    A  No.  1  soldier  ;  in  all  battles,  if  possible  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to  end  of  war. 
GREENWOOD,  JOHN.    A  faithful  fellow  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to  end  of  war. 
GREEN,  BYRON.    A  good  and  faithful  soldier  ;  killed  at  Gainesville. 
HOWE,  HENRY  S.    Discharged  for  disability  in  summer  of  1862. 
HOWE,  SOLOMON.    The  banner  soldier  of  the  Company  ;  in  every  battle  the  Regiment  was  in  : 

slightly  wounded  five  or  six  times,  but  never  left  his  Company  ;  re-enlisted  ;  served  till  end  of 

HUDSON,  JOHN  B.    A  good  soldier  ;  served  three  years  and  honorably  discharged. 

HICKEY,  JOHN.    A  rough  little  fellow,  but  a  good  soldier  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  re-enlisted 

and  served  till  end  of  war. 

HOLLICK,  AUGUST.    A  poor  shirk  ;  discharged  in  1863  for  disability—  sham. 
HERRICK,  HENRY.    Discharged  in  1862  for  disability,  (caused  by  drink.) 
HOAG,  CHARLES.    Served  three  years,  mostly  in  hospital. 
HEWELL,  WILLIAM.    Taken  prisoner  at  second  Bull  Run;  deserted  from  Parole  Camp,  Colum 

bus,  O.,  and  never  returned. 

HARKINGS,  JOHN.    Served  his  time,  but  much  of  it  in  hospital. 
HOUSTON,  JAMES  A.    Full  of  pluck  and  fight  ;  lost  finger  at  South  Mountain  ;  re-enlisted  and 

served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

LANING,  THOMAS  A.    Died  in  hospital  at  Washington  June,  1862. 

LAKE,  HENRY.    A  good  soldier  •  in  many  battles  ;  twice  a  prisoner  ;  discharged  in  July,  1865. 
LEWIS,  JOHN.    Deserted  from  Fort  Massachusets  April,  1862. 
MARSHALL,  ANTHONY.  One  of  the  best  soldiers  of  the  Regiment  ;  in  every  battle  ;  always  ready 

for  duty  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 
MUDGE,  DAVID  W.    Taken  prisoner  at  second  Bull  Run  and  deserted  from  Parole  Camp,  Colum 

bus,  O.,  and  never  returned. 

McCOY,  MARTIN.    Deserted  before  Company  left  Cherry  Valley. 
MicKEL,  HARRISON.    Served  three  years  well  and  honorably  discharged. 

MILLS,  JOHN.    A  faithful  soldier  :  discharged  for  disability  in  1863,  after  the  battle  of  Antietam. 
MAHANY,  WALTER.    A  rough  fellow,  but  one  of  the  best  of  soldiers  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to 

the  end  of  the  war. 


COMPANY  I.  425 

MERRY,  JAMES.    Deserted  from  Fort  Massachusetts  1862. 

MILLER,  WILLIAM  H.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  and  put  into  Invalid  Corps,  and  discharged  for 

disability  in  1863. 
MURPHY,  CHARLES.    Deserted  before  Company  left  Cherry  Valley. 

NEWELL,  John  F.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1864,  from  Invalid  Corps. 

NEWKIRK,  WILLIAM.    A  good  young  soldier ;  learned  to  write  good  hand  after  enlisting ;  re-en 
listed  and  served  to  end  of  war. 
NEWKIRK,  JOHN.    Discharged  for  disability  in  April,  1862. 

OVSER,  FREDERICK.    A  poor  shirk :  discharged  for  sham  disability  1862. 
O'BRIEN,  HIRAM.    Killed  at  the  Wilderness ;  a  good,  though  simple  soldier. 
OAKS,  RUSSELL.    Discharged  in  1862  for  disability,  and  re-enlisted  for  one  year  in  1864  for  a  large 
bounty. 

PICKET,  ROBERT.    Deserted  from  Fort  Massachusetts  and  never  returned. 
POLARD,  JAMES  H.    Deserted  before  Company  left  Cherry  Valley. 

RORICK,  JOHN.    Killed  at  Gettysburg ;  a  good  soldier. 

STEPHENS,  JOHX.  No.l  soldier;  saved  colors  at  Gettysburg  and  made  color  Sergeant  for  it; 
re-enlisted  and  served  to  end  of  war. 

STANTON,  JAY  CADY.    Killed  at  Gainesville  ;  a  good  soldier. 

SCIIERMERHORN,  FRANCIS.    Deserted  on  furlough  in  1862. 

SNOW,  GEORGE.  No.  1  soldier ;  wounded  in  thigh  at  Gainesville,  aud  finally  discharged  in  con 
sequence. 

SMITH,  WILLIAM  A.    Discharged  for  disability  in  1863. 

SALISBURY,  W.  C.    Discharged  for  disability  June  23d,  1862. 

SWAN,  EDW7iN  J.    (See  page  408.) 

VAN  VALKENBURG,  JOHN.    Deserted  May,  1862,  and  not  returned. 

VAN  BUREN,  JOHN.  A  good  and  brave  young  soldier ;  badly  wounded  in  three  places  at  Gettys 
burg  ;  re-enlisted  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

WINTERS.WILLIAM  H.    Discharged  for  disability  in  summer  of  1862. 
WATERS,  EDWIN.    Spent  most  of  his  time  as  "  hospital  beat." 

WAIT,  WILLIAM  N.  A  good  soldier ;  wounded  in  thigh  at  Gettysburg ;  re-enlisted  and  served 
faithfully  to  end  of  war,  much  of  the  time  as  Corporal. 

ZEH,  HIRAM.   Deserted  forepart  of  1862. 

LYNCH,  GEORGE.   A  good  soldier ;  transferred  to  Regulars,  and  afterward  killed  in  battle. 
YOTTMAN,  ABRAM.    Discharged  for  disability  June  23d,  1863. 

MATCHER,  JOHN.  A  good  soldier ;  badly  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  transferred  to  Invalid 
Corps. 


COMPANY  I.* 

JOHN  E.  COOK,  Captain.    (See  pages  356  and  357.) 

HIRAM  A.  BLODGETT,  First  Lieutenant ;  discharged.  Appointed  Adj't  of  Regiment  Jan.  2,1863. 

RICHARD  WILLIAMS,  Second  Lieutenant.    (See  page  407.) 

JOHN  M.  WATERMAN,  First  Sergeant.    (See  pages  382  and  383.) 

PETER  S.  CLARK,  Second  Sergeant.    Promoted  to  First  Sergeant  May  17th,  1862 ;  to  Second  Lieu- 

WILLIAM  «?.  LIDDLE,  Third  Sergeant.    Appointed  Brigade  Commissary  Sergeant  by  General 

Doubleday  June  1st,  1862 ;  killed  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  24th,  1864. 
LYMAN  WARNER,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
LEWIS  RIFENBURG,  Fifth  Sergeant.    Promoted  to  Sergeant  October  22d,  1861 ;  discharged  April 

22d,  1863. 
HIRAM  LAWYER,  First  Corporal.    Appointed  Sergeant  September  1st,  1863;  killed  near  Peters- 

WEL?ERUPITTS,  Second  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  April  24th,  1862. 

WILLIAM  A.  BISHOP,  Third  Corporal.    Deserted  from  hospital  June  1862. 

JOHN  U.  SLATER,  Fourth  Corporal.    Taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862 ;   rejoined 

Company  December  21st,  1862.    Killed  at  Laurel  Hill  May  12th.  1864. 
HEZEKIAH  SMITH,  Fifth  Corporal.    Died  in  hospital  at  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  November  3d,  1862  of 

SILAS  SMITH,  Sixth  Corporal.  Appointed  Sergeant  July  1st,  1862 ;  appointed  First  Sergeant  and 
then  Second  Lieutenant  and  transferred  to  Company  G. 

HENRY  SPERBECK,  Seventh  Corporal.  Reduced  to  ranks  December  24th,  1862 ;  deserted  Janua 
ry  20th  and  brought  back  January  30th,  1863  ;  discharged  on  expiration  of  term,  December  1st, 

CHARLES  H.  GUERNSEY,  Eighth  Corporal.    Died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  8th,  1862,  of  fever. 
OLIVER  R  BATES,  Musician.    Died  at  Baltimore  January  22d,  1863. 
CLARK  COONS,  Wagoner.    Re-enlisted  February  24th,  1864. 

*The  record  of  this  Company  is  taken  from  the  Company  Book  in  the  possession  of  Lieutenant 
Lavoisure  Stebbins,  of  Homer,  N.  Y. 


426  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  "N.  Y.  Y. 

PRIVATES. 

ADAMS,  ALVAH.    Deserted  from  hospital,  in  New  York,  in  February,  1862. 
ALGEK,  CHARLES.    Discharged  December  1st,  1861,  on  expiration  of  term. 

BARTHOLOMEW,  CHARLES.    Discharged  December  1st,  1864,  on  expiration  of  term. 

BARTON,  DARIUS  C.    Appointed  Corporal  November  1st,  1863,  and  Sergeant  September  14th, 

1863  ;  killed  May  5th,  1864,  at  Wilderness,  Va. 

BARRINGER,  WILLIAM  L.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  in  April,  1863. 
BECKER,  EDWARD  H.    Discharged  for  disability  March  25th,  1862. 
BICE,  HENRY.    Deserted  from  Fort  Massachusetts,  D.  C.,  May  21st,  1862. 
BICE,  JOHN  J.    Appointed  Sergeant  May  17th,  1862  ;  Coporal  May  25th,  1863. 
BOVE,  EDWIN  A.    Discharged  at  Washington  August  26th,  1862. 
BOOM,  WILLIAM  H.H.    Discharged. 
BORST,  MARTIN.    Deserted  May  16th,  1862. 
BORST,  JOSEPH  L.    Deserted  at  Albany  January  17th,  1862. 

BOUGH,  CHRISTOPHER.    Deserted  on  the  march  into  Maryland  September  8th,  1862. 
BRAYMAN,  CHARLES.    Died  at  Washington,  of  typhoid  lever,  May  30th,  1862  ;  buried  near  "Sol 

diers'  Home,"  D.  C. 
BREZEE,  ABRAM.    Deserted  May  14th,  1862. 

CATER,  JOHN  D.    Re-enlisted  March  30th,  1863,  at  Culpepper,  Va.  ;  missing  in  action  October 
10th, 


CHAMPENOY,  HARRISON.    Died  at  Home,  (Berne,  N.  Y.,)  March  8th,  1862. 
CLARK,  EDWARD  A.    Discharged  for  disability,  April  23d,  1862. 
COONS,  JAMES  E.    Deserted  on  furlough,  from  Albany,  February,  1862. 


CLARK,  EDWARD  A.  Discharged  for  disability,  April  23d,  1862. 
COONS,  JAMES  E.  Deserted  on  furlough,  from  Albany,  Februa 
COONS,  JOHN  W.  Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  transferred  to  Company  G. 


DIMOND,  JOHN.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  December  1st,  1864. 

DUEL,  DAVID  H.    Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862  ;  discharged  November,  1862. 

DUTCHER,  TARTELLAS.    Deserted  January  21st,  1863. 

ECKERSON,  JOHN.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  December  1st,  1864. 

EDWARDS,  MADISON.    Deserted  at  Albany,  in  February,  1862. 

EFNER,  ERASTUS  I.    Wounded,  taken  prisoner  and  paroled  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862  ; 

promoted  to  Coporal  August  1st,  1862,  and  to  Sergeant :  killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863. 
ELLIS,  RASSELAS.    Discharged  January  8th,  1863,  at  Washington. 

FIELD,  SAMUEL  L.  Taken  prisoner  and  paroled  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862 ;  deserted  Janua 
ry  20th,  1864. 

GETTER,  JEROME.  Elected  Second  Lieutenant  January  7th,  1862,  and  thrown  out  in  consolida 
tion  of  companies  at  Albany. 

HAMMOMD,  JAMES  H.    Appointed  Corporal  August  1st,  1862  ;  killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863. 

HARVEY,  JOHN  J.    Deserted  at  Cherry  Valley,  January  5th,  1862. 

HARVEY,  MATTHIAS.    Deserted  at  Cherry  Valley,  January  7th,  1862. 

HAYWARD,  AARON.  Appointed  Corporal  January  1st  1863,  and  Sergeant  May  5th,  1864 ;  re-en- 
enlisted  January  1st,  1864:  t9Ok  the  colors,  after  the  Color  Bearer  was  shot  down,  and  carried 
them  with  honor,  always  being  at  the  front. 

HERRON,  DANIEL.    Deserted  at  Cherry  Valley  November  25th,  1861 

HILLSLEY,  JOHN  J.    Died  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  August  9tn,  1862,  and  buried  there. 

KEYSER,  ABRAM.    Detailed  as  bass  drummer ;  discharged  December  1st,  1864. 

LAWYER,  NELSON.    Wounded  May  12th,  1864,  at  Laurel  Hill,  Va. 

LAWYER,  WILLIAM  H.    Taken  prisoner  at  Fredericksburg  December  16th,  1862,  and  paroled  in 

January. 

LOCKWOOD,  JEREMIAH.    Died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Falls  Church  Hospital  August  17th,  1862. 
LYNES,  DAVID.    Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1st,  1863. 

MATTISON,  CHARLES  S.    Lost  an  arm,  and  discharged  October  28th,  1863. 

MANN,  GEORGE  D.    Deserted  at  Cherry  Valley  December  16th,  1863. 

MANN,  THOMAS  J.    Discharged  for  disability  January  24th,  186-1. 

MANNING,  ADAM.    Deserted  May  21st,  1862. 

MANSCHOEFFER,  JACOB.    Taken  prisoner  and  paroled  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  rejoined 

companv  December  21st,  1862. 

MATTICE.'JOSEPH  H.    Discharged  for  disability  at  Philadelphia,  October  14th,  1862. 
MERRIHUE,  LEANDER  E.    Discharged  for  disability  March  5th,  1862. 
MOON,  LEWIS.    Deserted  at  Cherry  Valley  January  8th,  1862. 

NELSON,  HOLMES  H.  Taken  prisoner  and  paroled  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862  ;  discharged  for 
disability  January  8th,  1863. 

OLIVER,  GIDEON.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  has  never  been  heard  from  since. 

PARSLOE,  JACOB.  Died  at  Washington,  October  3d,  1862,  of  wounds  received  at  Gainesville  Au 
gust  28th,  1862. 

PARSLOE,  WILLIAM  II.  For  bravery  was  appointed  Sergeant ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term, 
December  1st,  1864. 

PICKINS.ALVIN.    Deserted  from  Hospital  at  Cherrv  Valley  in  February,  1862. 

PIERCE,  RALPH.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862;  rejoined'Company  February  20th, 
1863  ;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  December  1st,  1864. 

PROPER,  DANIEL  M.    Deserted  January  19th,  1863. 

REDMOND,  THOMAS.    Appointed  Corporal  August  1st.  1862,  and  Sergeant  of  Company  E  Septenv 

ber  5th,  1862  ;  discharged  afterwards.    (See  page  121). 
RULAND,  AMOS.    Appointed  Corporal  November  1st,  1862  ;  deserted  January  21st,  1863. 

SCRAMBLING,  JOHN.    Died  at  Hospital  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  25th,  1864,  of  gunshot  wound. 
SECOR,  LEVERITT.    Discharged  for  disability  July  10th,  1862. 
SHUFELT,  ORISON.   Died  at  Harwood  Hospital,  D".  C.,  April  18th,  1864. 


COMPANY  K.  427 

SMITH,  ANDREW  R.    Appointed  Quartermaster  at  Cherry  Valley,  October  15th,  1861  ;  rendered 

at  Gainesville,  !Aug.  28th,  1862  ;  deserted  from 


Parole  Camp,  Ohio,  October  llth  ,  1862. 

STEVEN,  ABKAM.  Died  May  12th,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  battle. 
SULLIVAN,  JOHN.  Died  in  New  York,  February  1st,  1862,  of  jaundice. 
SWEET,  STEPHEN  V.  G.  Deserted  May  14th,  1862. 

TEATER,  HENRY.    Taken  prisoner  at  Fredericksburg,  December  16th,  1862  ;  paroled  in  January  , 
ToMPKi0NsS,eMosEs!e'Appointed  Corporal  September  1st,  1863  ;  wounded  May  5th,  1864  ;  taken 

TRAVER?  CALVIN.    Discharged  from  hospital  at  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

TYGERT,  GEORGE  W.    Discharged  at  Cherry  Valley,  December  30th,  1861. 

VAN  PATTEN,  GEORGE.    Died  at  Fredericksburg,  July  2d,  1862,  of  fever. 

VAN  VALKENBURG,  ALEXANDER.     Taken  prisoner  and  paroled,  at  Gainesville,  August  28th, 

1862  ;  re-enlisted  January  3d,  1864,  at  Culpepper. 
VAN  VALKENBURG,  BENJAMIN.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  December  1st,  1864.    (See 

pages  163  and  164). 
VOSBURGH,  ABRAM.    Discharged. 

WAGGONER,  HENRY.    Deserted  May  14th,  1862. 

WARNER,  IRA.    Discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  December  1st,  1864. 

WARNER,  JOHN.    Died  at  Cherry  Valley.  January  4th,  1862,  of  measles. 

WEIDMAN,  PAUL.    Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862  ;  supposed  to  have  been  discharged. 

WEIDMAN,  RALPH.    Enlisted  in  Second  Cavalry,  United  States  Army,  1863. 

WHEELER,  JOHN  K.    Died  near  Washington,  February  13th,  1862  ;  buried  at  "Soldiers'  Home." 

WRIGHT,  CARPENTER  N.    Died  December  15th,  1862,  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  Va. 

WRIGHT,  CHARLES  H.    Discharged  for  disability,  July  7th,  1862. 

WRIGHT,  FLETCHER.    Discharged. 

YANSON,  JOSEPH.   Died  from  gunshot  wound,  at  Gainesville,  August  29th,  1862. 


COMPANY  K* 

JOHN  W.  YOUNG,  Captain.    (See  pages  358, 359  and  360). 

CHARLES  A.  WATKINS,  First  Lieutenant.    (See  pages  355  and  356) . 

CHAUNCEY  M.  GAYLORD,  Second  Lieutenant.  Went  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  on  sick  leave,  July 
15th,  1862,  and  was  there  discharged  for  disability,  September  12th,  1862. 

CALTERN  B.  SHAYS,  First  Sergeant.  Captured  May  5th,  1864,  at  Wilderness,  Va. ;  sent  to  Ander- 
sonville  ;  paroled  in  December,  1864,  and  honorably  discharged,  his  term  having  expired. 

THOMAS  F.  WELDON,  Second  Sergeant.    (See  pages  379  and  380). 

WILLIAM  V.  HOPKINS,  Third  Sergeant.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863;  sent  to  the 
hospital  after  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and  honorably  discharged. 

HIRAM  R.  IVES,  Fourth  Sergeant.    Discharged  with  the  Regiment. 

JEFFERSON  FERRY,  Fifth  Sergeant.    Discharged  for  disability,  February  8th,  1864. 

ANDRESS  DUTCHER,  First  Corporal.    Deserted  May  13th,  1862. 

HENRY  CRANE,  Second  Corporal.  Captured  at  Bull  Run,  August  30th,  1862 ;  paroled,  and 
deserted  from  parole  camp,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

SAMUEL  B.  THOMPSON,  Third  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability  in  July,  1862. 

JAMES  L.  CASLER,  Fourth  Corporal.  Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  in  January,  1864  ;  cap 
tured  at  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864,  (see  page  289,) ;  paroled  March  1st,  1865 ;  discharged  March 
14th,  1865  ;  was  in  all  the  battles  with  the  Regiment  until  captured. 

JAMES  P.  AVERELL,  Fifth  Corporal.    Discharged  for  disability,  May  16th,  1862. 

CHAUNCEY  FERRY,  Sixth  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862  ;  discharged  for 
disability,  December  4th,  1862. 

WILLIS  SNOW.  Seventh  Corporal.    Discharged  with  the  Regiment. 

WILLIAM  G.  VAN  HORN,  Eighth  Corporal.  Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862  ;  trans 
ferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  and  discharged  in  summer  of  1865. 

HARRISON  WHITNEY,  Musician.  Transferred  to  147th  New  York  Volunteers,  then  to  91st  New 
York  Volunteers,  and  mustered  out  with  that  Regiment. 

BENJAMIN  A.  FOOT,  Musician.  Promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant ;  transferred  to  147th,  then 
to  91st  New  York  Volunteers,  and  with  that  Regiment  mustered  out. 

PRIVATES. 

ANTICE,  SAMUEL  S.    Deserted  May  13th,  1862. 
ALLEN,  DANIEL.    Discharged  with  the  Regiment. 

BURTON,  WARREN  P.    Discharged  with  the  Regiment. 

BALDWIN,  WILLIAM  H.  Captured  at  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864;  paroled  from  Andersonville 
prison  in  December  and  honorably  discharged. 

*The  Record  of  this  Company  was  made  up  by  its  former  Captain,  Major  John  W.  Young,  to 
whom  many  thanks  are  due  for  his  interest  in  this  work. 


428  THE  SEVENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  E".  Y.  Y. 

BALDWIN,  CHARLES.    Wounded  at  South  Mountain,  September  14th,  1862 :  sent  to  hospital  and 

honorably  discharged,  for  wound,  February  13th,  1863. 
BROWN,  ALBERT.    Captured  at  Bull  Run,  August  30th,  1862  ;  paroled  and  sent  to  parole  camp, 

Columbus,  Ohio  ;  went  home  and  did  not  return. 
BERTRAND,  LEWIS.    Wounded  at  South  Mountain,  September  14th,  1862  ;  sent  to  the  hospital 

and  honorably  discharged  for  the  wound. 
BRAZEE,  SAMUEL.    Wounded  in  hand  September  10th,  1862,  and  discharged  on  that  account 

December  23d,  1862. 
BELLINGER,  JOHN.    Detailed  February  16th,  1862,  to  gunboat  service  West,  and  subsequently 

discharged. 
BECKER,  LEVI  S.    Discharged  for  disability,  June  21st,  1862. 

COLE,  JOSHUA.  Discharged  for  disability,  June  23d,  1863 ;  came  back  under  assumed  name,  as 
substitute,  October,  1863  •  deserted  a  day  or  two  after,  and  not  since  heard  from. 

COUSE,  HIRAM.    Deserted  May  20th  1862. 

CHANDALL,  BURTON.  Deserted  May  20th,  1862,  and  killed  at  home  by  a  tree  falling  upon  him 
while  at  work. 

CHAPMAN,  ALFRED.  In  all  the  engagements  with  his  Kegiment  until  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863, 
when  supposed  to  have  been  killed. 

CHAPMAN,  FRANCIS.  Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862 ;  paroled  and  sent  to  hospital ; 
supposed  to  have  been  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863.  These  two  men  were  brothers,  and 
leave  a  mother  in  England  ;  no  relatives  in  America. 

CHAPPEL,  ELIJAH.  Captured  at  Bull  Run,  August  29th,  1862,  and  paroled ;  captured  at  Wilder 
ness,  May  5th,  1864,  and  sent  to  Andersonville,  where  he  died. 

CRIPPEN,  EZRA.    Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862,  and  died  of  wound  the  next  day. 

CHAPIN,  LORENZO.    Discharged  for  disability  October  24th,  1862. 

CHASE,  WILLIAM  H.  Promoted  to  Regimental  Quartermaster  June  5th,  1862  ;  returned  to  Com 
pany  July  29th,  1862,  by  order  of  Colonel  Wainwright ;  discharged  for  disability. 

DEVOE,  CHARLES  W.  Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862,  and  died  next  day  of  the 
wpund. 

DEVOE,  GEORGE  W.  Severely  wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862 ;  severely  wounded  at 
Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864,  and  taken  prisoner ;  sent  to  Andersonville,  and  there  died  of  star 
vation  in  prison. 

DUNN,  JOHN.    Died  in  1861,  while  home  on  a  furlough. 

DUTCHER,  HENRY  C.    Deserted  while  under  charges,  May  20th,  1862. 

DOTY,  GEORGE  W.  Was  sent  to  the  hospital  sick  in  summer  of  1862 ;  did  not  return  to  the  Reg 
iment. 

FOWLER,  ADELBERT.   Died  at  Patent  Office  Hospital,  D.  C.,  May  4th,  1862. 

GRANT,  SETH  H.    Went  home  from  Cherry  Valley  on  sick  leave,  and  died  while  at  home. 

HUBBARD,  WILLIAM  H.  S.  Deserted  January  20th,  1863 ;  had  previously  been  a  good  soldier, 
and  been  with  the  Regiment  in  all  its  actions. 

HEMSTREET,  NATHAN  T.    Sent  to  hospital  sick  and  honorably  discharged. 

HAMMELL,  PETER  M.    Died  while  home  on  furlough. 

HANNAN,  MICHAEL.  Wounded  at  South  Mountain,  September  14th,  1862 ;  discharged  for  wound ; 
has  cork  leg ;  resides  at  Cooperstown,  N.  Y. 

HAGADORN,  NELSON.    Deserted  before  leavingthe  State. 

HOUSE,  CHARLES.  Transferred  to  147th  New  York  Volunteers,  and  to  91st  New  York  Volun 
teers,  with  which  he  was  discharged  at  close  of  war,  July  18th,  1865. 

INGALLSBEE,  SILAS.   Went  home  from  Albany,  in  January,  1862,  by  permission  of  Colonel 

Green,  and  did  not  return. 
INGALLS,  GEORGE  W.   Deserted  before  leaving  the  State. 

JANES,  ELIHU  O.    Deserted  before  leaving  the  State. 

JENKS,  EZRA  G.    Captured  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5th,  1864,  and  taken  to  Andersonville,  where 

he  died  of  starvation. 

MARCH,  ENOCH  D.    Deserted  before  leaving  the  State. 
MARQUISEE  BARNEY.    Wounded  at  South  Mountain,  Md.,  September  14th,  1862 ;  discharged  in 

consequence,  November  22d,  1862. 

MCKEEVER,  JOHN.    Discharged  for  disability,  July  18th.  1862. 
MCGARRITY,  JAMES.    Deserted  near  Purcellville,  Va.,  November  2d,  1862. 
McDANiELS,  ALEXANDER.    Went  home  from  Albany  on  sick  furlough  in  January,  1862,  and 

died  at  Oaksville,  Otsego  Co.,  June  25th,  1862. 
MAICOS,  JOHN.    Transferred  to  Company  H. 
NORTON,  JAMES.    Discharged  July  22d,  1862,  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  on  account  of  age  and 

size  ;  afterwards  joined  the  24th  Wisconsin  Volunteers. 
OLDS,  ROSWELD.    Transferred  to  3d  New  York  Artillery  January  17th,  1862. 
PATTERSON,  ERASTUS.    Deserted  January  20th,  1863 ;  had  previously  been  a  good  soldier  and 

in  all  the  battles  with  the  Regiment. 
PIXLEY,  BENJAMIN.    Deserted  before  leaving  the  State. 
PENDALL,  CHARLES  W.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862. 
PHELPS,  JOSEPH.    Wounded  at  Gainesville  August  28th,  1862 ;  transferred  to  the  147th  New  York 

Volunteers,  from  which  he  was  honorably  discharged. 
POWELL,  WILLLIAME.    Captured  at  Bull  Run  August  29th,  1862;  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 

July  1st,  1863. 

FARMER,  WILLIAM  H.    Honorably  discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  October,  1864. 
PRESCOTT,  ANTHONY.    Killed  at  Bull  Run,  Va.,  August  29th,  1862. 
PETTIE,  HARRISON.    Discharged  for  disability  December  19th  1863,  at  New  York. 

RIPLEY,  WILLIAM  H.    (See  pages  369  and  370). 

ROE.  MOETON.   Transferred  to  147th  New  York  Volunteers,  with  which  he  was  discharged  in 


COMPANY  K.  429 

STEPHENS,  HEN  BY  H.  Would  run  as  soon  as  he  heard  the  report  of  the  enemy's  guns ;  dishon 
orably  discharged  for  cowardice,  October  20th,  1862,  by  sentence  of  Court  Martial. 

SHUTES,  EGBERT.    Deserted  before  leaving  the  State. 

SMITH,  CHARLES  H.  Severely  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  1st,  1863,— four  balls  passed  through 
his  body  and  a  shell  tore  open  his  hip  ;  for  several  months  all  his  food  passed  through  his 
wounds  ;  discharged  in  October,  1864,  and  resides  at  Decatur,  Otsego  Co. ;  wounds  still  open, 
July  1st,  1866. 

STRAIT,  HARRISON.    Discharged  for  disability  December  6th,  1863,  at  Alexandria. 

SITTS,  ELIJAH.    Discharged  for  disability  January  16th,  1863. 

SITTS,  DELEVAN.    Discharged  for  disability  December  10th,  1862. 

SHIPMAN,  BRUCE.    Discharged  with  the  Regiment  in  1864. 

SMALL,  EDWARD.  Transferred  to  Battery  M,  3d  Artillery,  and  honorably  discharged  June  26th, 
1865,  at  Richmond,  Va. ;  was  in  twenty-eight  engagements,  commencing  at  Deep  Creek,  N.  C., 
April  2d,  1862,  and  ending  with  marching  into  Richmond,  April  3d,  1865. 

SHEPHERD,  KICHARD.    Killed  at  Bull  Run,  August  29th,  1862. 

SHAUL,  ORLANDO.    Died  of  fever,  September  14th,  1862,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

THAYEB,  JULIUS  P.    Discharged  July  24th,  1862,  because  too  small. 

VOORHEES,  JOHN.    Killed  at  Gainesville,  Va.,  August  28th,  1862. 

WHITNEY,  EDMUND  H.    Discharged  for  disability,  at  Albany,  January  1st,  1862. 

WHITNEY,  JAMES  H.    Discharged  for  disability,  at  Washington,  March  4th,  1862. 

WHIPPLE,  JOHN  G.    Deserted  before  leaving  the  State. 

WRIGHT,  CHARLES  H.    Deserted  before  leaving  the  State. 

WINN,  JOHN  W.    Wounded  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862. 

WRIGHT,  EBENEZER.  Wounded  at  South  Mountain,  September  14th,  1862,  and  died  of  his 
wound  the  next  day  ;  buried  near  the  Church  at  that  place. 

WATERMAN,  WESTERN.    Discharged  for  disability,  May  17th,  1862. 

WOODCOCK,  GEORGE  A.  Transferred  to  147th  New  York  Volunteers,  with  which  he  was  dis 
charged. 

WALBER,  JOHN.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  from  which  he  was  honorably  dis 
charged  in  the  summer  of  1865  ;  resides  at  Springfield,  N.  Y. 

WINSLOW,  LESTER  1ST.  Killed  at  Gainesville,  August  28th,  1862,  by  the  side  of  his  tent  mate, 
John  Voorhees,  killed  at  the  same  time. 

WIRES,  GILBERT.    Deserted  January  20th,  1863,  and  joined  another  Regiment. 

WAIT,  ALBERT.  Was  enticed  away  at  Cherry  Valley,  November  28th,  1861,  and  joined  the  78th 
New  York  Volunteers. 

WATERHOUSE,  ORRIN.    Died  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  June  10th,  1862,  and  buried  there. 

YAGER,  JAMES.    Promoted  to  Sergent ;    captured  at  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864 ;  taken  to  An- 

dersonville  ;  paroled  December,  1864. 
YOUNG  ,  NATHAN.    Discharged  for  disability,  at  Pratt 's  Point,  Va.,  March  22d,  1863 ;  died  on  his 

way  home,  March  24th. 
YOUNG,  EZRA.    Deserted  May  21st,  1862 ;  afterwards  joined  the  121st  New  York  Volunteers, 

and  was  captured  in  the  summer  of  1864 ;  taken  to  Andersonville,  paroled  and  honorably 

discharged. 


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